f you ask
'em."

"I'm glad we're goin' to have such nice neighbors," said Thankful. "It's
always worried me a little wonderin' who that Colfax place might be sold
to. I didn't know but somebody might get it with the notion of startin'
another hotel."

"Hannah Parker ain't opened her mouth to talk of anything else since
I got back," said Captain Bangs. "And it's been open most of the time,
too. She says John's rich relation's locatin' here is a dissipation of
Providence, if you know what that is."

John smiled but he said nothing. Emily was silent, also; she was
regarding the young man intently.

"Yes, sir," continued Mr. Daniels, evidently pleased at the approval
with which his statement had been met. "Yes, sir, Mr. E. Holliday
Kendrick is destined to be a great acquisition to this town; mark my
words. He tells me he shall hire no one to do his work except East
Wellmouth people. And there will be a lot of work to be done, if he
carries out his plans. He intends building an addition to his house, and
enlarging his estate--"

Thankful interrupted.

"Enlargin' it!" she repeated. "Mercy sakes! What for? I should think
'twas large enough now!"

Heman smiled tolerantly. "To us--the ordinary--er--citizens, it might
appear so," he observed. "But the--er--New York ideas is broader
than the average Cape Codder's, if you'll excuse me, Mrs. Barnes. Mr.
Kendrick has begun to spend money here already, and he will doubtless
spend more. He contemplates public improvements as well as private. He
asked me what sort of spirit there was in our community. Ahem!"

He paused, apparently to let the importance of the announcement sink in.
It sank, or seemed to. Mr. Hammond, however, was somewhat puzzled.

"Now what do you cal'late he meant by that?" he queried.

John Kendrick answered. He and Emily had exchanged smiles. Neither of
them seemed as deeply impressed with the Daniels proclamation as the
others of the group.

"Perhaps he wanted to buy a drink," suggested John, gravely.

Miss Timpson was shocked; her expression showed it. Caleb Hammond did
not seem to know whether to be shocked or not; the Hammond appreciation
of a joke generally arrived on a later train. Mrs. Barnes and Captain
Obed laughed, but not too heartily.

Mr. Daniels did not laugh. The frivolous interruption evidently jarred
him.

"I scarcely imagine that to be the reason," he said, drily. "If Mr. E.
Holliday Kendrick does indulge I guess likely--that is,