red help" was destined to prove a treasure.

"I am real glad you like it here so well, Imogene," she said, at the end
of a fortnight. "I was afraid you might be lonesome, down here so far
from the city."

Imogene laughed. "Who? Me?" she exclaimed. "I guess not, ma'am. Don't
catch me bein' lonesome while there's folks around I care about. I was
lonesome enough when I first came to the Home and the kids used to
make fun of me. But I ain't lonesome now, with you so kind and nice. No
indeedy! I ain't lonesome and I ain't goin' to be. You watch!"

Captain Obed heartily approved of Imogene. Of Kenelm Parker as
man-of-all-work his approval was much less enthusiastic. He had been
away attending to his fish weirs, when Kenelm was hired, and the bargain
was made before he returned. It was Hannah Parker who had recommended
her brother for the position. She had coaxed and pleaded and, at last,
Thankful had consented to Kenelm's taking the place on trial.

"You'll need a nice, trustworthy man to do chores," said Hannah. "Now
Kenelm's honest; there ain't a more honest, conscientious man in East
Wellmouth than my brother, if I do say it. Take him in the matter of
that umbrella he lost the night you first came, Mrs. Barnes. Take that,
for instance. He'd left it or lost it somewheres, he knew that, and the
ordinary person would have been satisfied; but not Kenelm. No sir-ee!
He hunted and hunted till he found that umbrella and come fetchin' of it
home. 'Twas a week afore he did that, but when he did I says, 'Well,' I
says, 'you have got more stick-to-it than I thought you had. You--'"

"Where did he find it?" interrupted Thankful.

"Land knows! He didn't seem to know himself--just found it, he said.
He acts so sort of upsot and shameful about that umbrella that he and
I don't talk about it any more. But it did show that he had a sense of
responsibleness, and a good one. Anybody that'll stick to and persecute
a hunt for a lost thing the way he done will stick to a job the same
way. Don't you think so yourself, Mrs. Barnes?"

Thankful was not convinced, but she yielded. When she told Captain Bangs
he laughed and observed: "Yup, well, maybe so. Judgin' by other jobs
Kenelm's had he'll stick to this one same as he does to his bed of
a Sunday mornin'--lay down on it and go to sleep. However, I presume
likely he ought to have the chance. Of course Hannah's idea is plain
enough. Long's he's at work over here, she can keep an eye on him.