alk--and talk. Ain't it astonishin' how such a feeble-lookin'
craft as he is can keep blowin' off steam that way and still be able to
navigate."

His wife took him to task. "The idea," she protested, "of your callin'
your own minister a 'critter'! I should think you'd be ashamed. . . .
But, oh, dear, I'm afraid he WILL be over here an awful lot."

Her fears were realized. Mr. Kendall, although not on hand "six nights
out of five," as the captain prophesied, was a frequent visitor at
the Snow place. As Albert's story-writing progressed the discussions
concerning the growth and development of the hero's character became
more and more involved and spirited. They were for the most part
confined, when the minister was present, to him and Mrs. Snow and
Rachel. Laban, if he happened to be there, sat well back in the corner,
saying little except when appealed to, and then answering with one of
his dry, characteristic observations. Captain Lote, in the rocker, his
legs crossed, his hand stroking his beard, and with the twinkle in his
eyes, listened, and spoke but seldom. Occasionally, when he and his
grandson exchanged glances, the captain winked, indicating appreciation
of the situation.

"Say, Al," he said, one evening, after the old clergyman had departed,
"it must be kind of restful to have your work all laid out for you this
way. Take it to-night, for instance; I don't see but what everything's
planned for this young feller you're writin' about so you nor he won't
have to think for yourselves for a hundred year or such matter. Course
there's some little difference in the plans. Rachel wants him to get
wrecked on an island or be put in jail, and Mother, she wants him to be
a soldier and a poet, and Mr. Kendall thinks it's high time he joined
the church or signed the pledge or stopped swearin' or chewin' gum."

"Zelotes, how ridiculous you do talk!"

"All right, Mother, all right. What strikes me, Al, is they don't any of
'em stop to ask you what YOU mean to have him do. Course I know 'tain't
any of your business, but still--seems 's if you might be a little mite
interested in the boy yourself."

Albert laughed. "Don't worry, Grandfather," he said. "I'm enjoying it
all very much. And some of the suggestions may be just what I'm looking
for."

"Well, son, we'll hope so. Say, Labe, I've got a notion for keepin' the
minister from doin' all the talkin.' We'll ask Issy Price to drop in;
eh?"

Laban shook his head. "I don