Labe says Hapgood told him that Percy was
keepin' company now with another woman there in Scarford, a young
woman with money, of course--he wouldn't chase any other kind. Well,
Hapgood--he's a healthy specimen for my husband to be in with, he
is--Hapgood knows a lot about Hungerford and his goin's on in the past,
and he's got a lot of the Percy man's old letters from other girls.
Don't ask ME how he got 'em; stole 'em, I suppose, same as he stole that
telegram from John. Anyhow, Labe and Hapgood have sent those letters to
the present young woman's pa."

Daniel whistled. "Whew!" he exclaimed. "That's interestin'."

"Ain't it, now! Laban says the old commodore--meanin' the pa, I
suppose--is a holy terror and sets more store by his daughter than
he does by his hopes of salvation, enough sight. Good reason, too, I
presume likely; he's toler'ble sure of the daughter. Well, anyhow, the
letters are gone and Labe says he's willin' to bet that Cousin Percy'll
be GOIN'--out of the window and out of Scarford--when papa gets after
him. Nice mess, ain't it!"

Captain Dan whistled again. "Well, Zuba," he observed, "we can't help
it, as I see. What's done's done and chickens do come home to roost,
don't they?"

"Humph! I wish my husband would come home and roost where I can keep my
eye on him. He says he's gettin' sick of bein' a land lubber. He'll be
aboard some ship and off again afore long, that's some comfort. The
only time I know that man is safe is when he's a thousand miles from dry
land."

CHAPTER XVI

Serena and Daniel were together in the parlor. It was past dinner time,
but Azuba, for some reason or other, had not gotten dinner ready. This
was unusual for, if there was one thing upon which the housekeeper
prided herself, it was in being "prompt at meal times." She was setting
the table now, however, and they could hear her rattling the knives and
forks and singing, actually singing.

"Azuba is in good spirits, isn't she," observed Serena. "I haven't heard
her sing before for a long time. I suppose, like the rest of us, she has
been too troubled to sing."

Captain Dan listened to the singing, shook his head, and remarked
whimsically, "There's some comfort to be got out of trouble, then. Say,
the 'Sweet By and By' would turn sour if it could hear her sing about
it, wouldn't it?"

"Hush, Daniel, don't be irreverent. Why don't you light the lamp, or let
me light it? It's getting so dark I can hardly see you."