w from a stranger, if I can
help it. I've got a relation down here on the Cape, although he's a
pretty fur-off, round-the-corner relation, third cousin, or somethin'
like that. His name's Solomon Cobb and he lives over to Trumet, about
nine mile from here, so Cap'n Bangs says. And he and Uncle Abner used
to sail together for years. He was mate aboard the schooner when
Uncle Abner died on a v'yage from Charleston home. This Cobb man is a
tight-fisted old bachelor, they say, but his milk of human kindness may
not be all skimmed. And, anyhow, he does take mortgages; that's the heft
of his business--I got that from the cap'n without tellin' him what I
wanted to know for."

Miss Howes smiled.

"You and Captain Bangs have been putting your heads together, I see,"
she said.

"Um--hm. And his head ain't all mush and seeds like a pumpkin, if I'm
any judge. The cap'n tells me that east Wellmouth needs a good summer
boardin'-house. This--this contraption we're in now is the nighest thing
there is to it, and that's as far off as dirt is from soap; you can see
that yourself. 'Cordin' to Cap'n Bangs, lots and lots of city people
would come here summers if there was a respectable, decent place to go
to. Now, Emily, why can't I give 'em such a place? Seems to me I can.
Anyhow, if I can mortgage the place to Cousin Sol Cobb I think--yes, I'm
pretty sure I shall try. Now what do you think? Is your Aunt Thankful
Barnes losin' her sense--always providin' she's ever had any to lose--or
is she gettin' to be a real business woman at last?"

Emily's reply was at first rather doubtful. She raised one objection
after the other, but Mrs. Barnes was always ready with an answer. It was
plain that she had looked at her plan from every angle. And, at last,
Miss Howes, too, became almost enthusiastic.

"I do believe," she said, "it may turn out to be a splendid thing for
you, Auntie. At least, I'm sure you will succeed if anyone can. Oh
dear!" wistfully. "I only wish it were possible for me to stay here and
help with it all. But I can't--I can't. Mother and the children need the
money and I must go back to my school."

Thankful nodded. "Yes," she admitted, "I suppose likely you must, for
the present. But--but if it SHOULD be a go and I SHOULD see plainer
sailin' ahead, then I'd need somebody to help manage, somebody younger
and more up-to-date than I am. And I know mighty well who I shall send
for."

They talked for a long time, but at last,