m there.

"Miss Dawes," he said, "I--I s'pose you know that Bos'n--I mean Emily
there--is livin' at my house and that I'm taking care of her for--for
the present."

The lady smiled.

"Yes," she said. "I gathered as much from what you said when we first
met."

She herself had said one or two things on that occasion. Captain Cy
remembered them distinctly.

"Yes, yes," he said hastily. "Well, my doin's that time wasn't exactly
the best sample of the care, I will say. Wan't even a fair sample,
maybe. I try to do my best with the child, long as she stays with me,
and--er--and--er--I'm pretty particular about her health."

"I'm glad to hear it."

"Yes. Now, Miss Phoebe, I appreciate what you did for Bos'n and me that
Sunday, and I'm thankful for it. I've tried to thank--"

"I know. Please don't say any more about it. I imagine there is
something else you want to say, isn't there?"

"Why, yes, there is. I--I heard that Emmie had been kept after school. I
didn't believe it, of course, but I thought I'd run up and see what--"

He hesitated. The teacher finished the sentence for him.

"To see if it was true?" she said. "It is. I told her to stay and write
fifty lines."

"You did? Well, now that's what I wanted to speak to you about. Course
I ain't interferin' in your affairs, you know, but I just wanted to
explain about Bos'n--Emmie, I mean. She ain't a common child; she's got
too much head for the rest of her. If you'd lived with her same as I
have you'd appreciate it. Her health's delicate."

"Is it? She seems strong enough to me. I haven't noticed any symptoms."

"Course not, else you wouldn't have kept her in. But _I_ know, and I
think it's my duty to tell you. Never mind if she can't do quite so
much writin'. I'd rather she wouldn't; she might bust a blood vessel
or somethin'. Such things HAVE happened, to extry smart young ones. You
just let her trot along home with me now and--"

"Cap'n Whittaker," Miss Dawes had risen to her feet with a determined
expression on her face.

"Yes, ma'am," said the captain, rising also.

"Cap'n Whittaker," repeated the teacher, "I'm very glad that you called.
I've been rather expecting you might, because of certain things I have
heard."

"You heard? What was it you heard--if you don't mind my askin'?"

"No, I don't, because I think we must have an understanding about Emily.
I have heard that you allow her to do as she pleases at home; in other
words, that you are spoi