them sitting here, jest as John had
seen in that vision of his. A strange thing--a strange thing! But
I've seen a turrible lot of strange things in my time."

Captain Jim shook his head sagely.

"It's a dear story," said Anne, feeling that for once she had got
enough romance to satisfy her. "How long did they live here?"

"Fifteen years. I ran off to sea soon after they were married, like
the young scalawag I was. But every time I come back from a voyage I'd
head for here, even before I went home, and tell Mistress Selwyn all
about it. Fifteen happy years! They had a sort of talent for
happiness, them two. Some folks are like that, if you've noticed.
They COULDN'T be unhappy for long, no matter what happened. They
quarrelled once or twice, for they was both high-sperrited. But
Mistress Selwyn says to me once, says she, laughing in that pretty way
of hers, 'I felt dreadful when John and I quarrelled, but underneath it
all I was very happy because I had such a nice husband to quarrel with
and make it up with.' Then they moved to Charlottetown, and Ned
Russell bought this house and brought his bride here. They were a gay
young pair, as I remember them. Miss Elizabeth Russell was Alec's
sister. She came to live with them a year or so later, and she was a
creature of mirth, too. The walls of this house must be sorter SOAKED
with laughing and good times. You're the third bride I've seen come
here, Mistress Blythe--and the handsomest."

Captain Jim contrived to give his sunflower compliment the delicacy of
a violet, and Anne wore it proudly. She was looking her best that
night, with the bridal rose on her cheeks and the love-light in her
eyes; even gruff old Doctor Dave gave her an approving glance, and told
his wife, as they drove home together, that that red-headed wife of the
boy's was something of a beauty.

"I must be getting back to the light," announced Captain Jim. "I've
enj'yed this evening something tremenjus."

"You must come often to see us," said Anne.

"I wonder if you'd give that invitation if you knew how likely I'll be
to accept it," Captain Jim remarked whimsically.

"Which is another way of saying you wonder if I mean it," smiled Anne.
"I do, 'cross my heart,' as we used to say at school."

"Then I'll come. You're likely to be pestered with me at any hour.
And I'll be proud to have you drop down and visit me now and then, too.
Gin'rally I haven't anyone to talk to but the First