e. Git a good no'theaster
goin', and you'll think the whole house is comin' down. Nothin' to what
they used to have, though, 'cordin' to tell. Cap'n Jonadab Wixon used to
swear that his grandfather told him 'bout a gale that blew the hair all
off a dog, and then the wind changed of a sudden, and blew it all on
again."

Elsie laughed. "That must have been a blow," she said.

"Yes. Cap'n Jonadab's somethin' of a blow himself, so he ought to be a
good jedge. The outer beach is the place that catches it when there's
a gale on. Oh, say! that reminds me. I s'pose you was glad to hear the
news last night?"

"What news?"

"Why, that 'bout Mr. Hazeltine's goin' away. You're glad he's goin', of
course."

Miss Preston did not answer immediately. Instead, she turned and looked
wonderingly at her companion.

"Why should I be glad, pray?" she asked.

"Why, I don't know. I jest took it for granted you would be. You didn't
want him to come and see you, and if he was gone he couldn't come, so--"

"Just a minute, please. What makes you think I didn't want Mr. Hazeltine
to call?"

And now it was the Captain's turn to stare and hesitate.

"What makes me think--" he gasped. "Why--you told me so, yourself."

"_I_ told you so? I'm certain that I never told you anything of the
kind."

Captain Jerry stood stock-still, and if ever a face expressed complete
amazement, it was his.

"Elsie Preston!" he ejaculated, "are you losin' your mem'ry or what?
Didn't you pitch into me hot-foot for lettin' him be alone with you?
Didn't you give me 'hark from the tomb' for gittin' up and goin' away?
Didn't you say his calls was perfect torture to you, and that you had to
be decent to him jest out of common politeness? Now, didn't you?"

"Oh, that was it! No, of course I didn't say any such thing."

"You DIDN'T! Why, I heard you! Land of love! my ears smarted for a week
afterward. I ain't had sech a goin' over sence mother used to git at me
for goin' in swimmin' on Sunday. And now you say you didn't say it."

"I didn't. You misunderstood me. I did object to your leaving the room
every time he called, and making me appear so ridiculous; and I did
say that his visits might be a torture for all that you knew to the
contrary, but I certainly didn't say that they WERE."

"SUFFERIN'! And you ain't glad he stopped comin'?"

The air of complete indifference assumed by the young lady was a
triumph.

"Why, of course," she said, "Mr. Hazeltine is