them pretty han's to housework.
Betty Gallup'll do all that. An' you don't have to pay no board money.
As for cookin'----That remin's me. I'd better git to work on our
supper. We'll be sharp for it 'fore long."

"And--and I may stay?" asked Louise, with some little embarrassment
now. "You are sure it won't inconvenience you?"

"Bless you, no! I cal'late it's more likely to inconvenience _you_,"
and Cap'n Abe chuckled mellowly. "I don't know what sort o' 'roughin'
it' you've done with your pa; but if there's anything much rougher than
an ol' man's housekeepin' down here on the Cape, it must be pretty
average rough!"

She laughed gayly. "You can't scare me!"

"Ain't a-tryin' to," he responded, eying her admiringly. "You're an
able seaman, I don't dispute. An' we'll git along fine. Hi-mighty!
there's Am'zon!"

Louise actually turned around this time to look at the door, expecting
to see the mariner in question enter. Then she said, half doubtfully:

"Do you suppose your brother will object if he does come, Cap'n Abe?"

"Land sakes, no!" the storekeeper quickly assured her. "'Tain't that.
But I cal'lated 'bout soon's Am'zon anchored here I'd cast off moorin's
myself."

"Go away?" Louise demanded.

"Yes. Like poor old Jerry, mebbe," said Cap'n Abe, looking at the
caged bird. "Mebbe I'll be glad to come back again--and in a hurry.
But while Cap'n Am'zon is here I can take a vacation that I've long
hankered for, Niece Louise. I--I got my plans all made."

"Don't for one moment think of changing them on my account," Louise
said briskly. "I shall like Uncle Amazon immensely if he's anything
like you, Cap'n Abe."

"He--he ain't so _much_ like me," confessed the storekeeper. "Not in
looks he ain't. But hi-mighty! I know he'll be as pleased as Punch to
see ye."

"Are you sure of that?"

"Wait till you see how he takes to ye," declared her reassuring uncle.
"Now, lemme git my apern on and set to work on supper."

"Can't I help, Cap'n Abe?"

"In them things?" the storekeeper objected.

"Well--I'll have plenty of house dresses when my trunks come. I left
my checks at the station for a man named Perry Baker. They said he'd
bring them over to-night."

"He will," Cap'n Abe assured her. But he stopped a moment, stock-still
in the middle of the room, and stared at her unseeingly. Evidently his
mind was fixed upon an idea suddenly suggested by her speech. "He
will," he repeated. Then:

"I'