; he was angry and humiliated.

The Reverend Seabury Calvin, of Providence, R. I., had arrived in town
and opened his summer cottage unusually early in the season. What
was quite as important, Mrs. Seabury Calvin had arrived with him. The
Reverend Calvin, whose stay was in this case merely temporary, was
planning to build an addition to his cottage porch. Mrs. Calvin, who was
the head of the summer "Welfare Workers," whatever they were, had called
a meeting at the Calvin house to make Welfare plans for the season.

The lumber for the new porch was ordered of Z. Snow and Co. The Reverend
Calvin ordered it himself in person. Albert received the order.

"I wish this delivered to-morrow without fail," said Mr. Calvin. Albert
promised.

But promises are not always easy to keep. One of Z. Snow and Co.'s teams
was busy hauling lumber for the new schoolhouse at Bayport. The other
Issachar had commandeered for deliveries at Harniss Center and refused
to give up his claim. And Laban Keeler, as it happened, was absent
on one of his "vacations." Captain Zelotes was attending a directors'
meeting at Osham and from there was going to Boston for a day's stay.

"The ship's in your hands, Al," he had said to his grandson. "Let me see
how you handle her."

So, in spite of Albert's promise, the Calvin lumber was not delivered on
time. The Reverend gentleman called to ask why. His manner was anything
but receptive so far as excuses were concerned.

"Young man," he said loftily, "I am accustomed to do business with
business people. Did you or did you not promise to deliver my order
yesterday?"

"Why, yes sir, I promised, but we couldn't do it. We--"

"I don't care to know why you didn't do it. The fact that you did not is
sufficient. Will that order of mine be delivered to-day?"

"If it is a possible thing, Mr. Calvin, it--"

"Pardon me. Will it be delivered?"

The Speranza temper was rising. "Yes," said the owner of that temper,
succinctly.

"Does yes mean yes, in this case; or does it mean what it meant before?"

"I have told you why--"

"Never mind. Young man, if that lumber is not delivered to-day I shall
cancel the order. Do you understand?"

Albert swallowed hard. "I tell you, Mr. Calvin, that it shall be
delivered," he said. "And it will be."

But delivering it was not so easy. The team simply could NOT be taken
off the schoolhouse job, fulfillment of a contract was involved there.
And the other horse had gone la