Thankful nodded. "I will," she said.

But John did not come home for dinner that night. He had business which
called him to Wellmouth Centre that afternoon and it was late in the
evening when he returned. Heman Daniels was late for dinner also,
and when he entered the dining-room there was an air of mystery and
importance about him which everyone noticed. Miss Timpson, who seldom
permitted reticence to interfere with curiosity, asked him what was the
matter.

"I do declare, Mr. Daniels," she said, "you look as if you had the cares
of the nation on your shoulders tonight. Has anything gone wrong with
one of those important cases of yours?"

Mr. Daniels shook his head. "No," he answered, gravely. "My cases are
progressing satisfactorily. My worries just now are not professional.
I heard some news this afternoon which--er--upset me somewhat, that is
all."

"News? Upsettin' news? Land sakes, do tell us! What is it?"

But Mr. Daniels refused to tell. The news concerned other people, he
said, and he was not at liberty to tell. He trusted Miss Timpson would
excuse him under the circumstances.

Miss Timpson was therefore obliged to excuse him, though it was plain
that she did so under protest. She made several more or less direct
attempts to learn the secret and, failing, went out to attend
prayer-meeting. Caleb Hammond went out also, though the club, not
prayer-meeting, was his announced destination. Heman finished his dinner
alone. When he had finished he sent word by Imogene that when Miss Howes
was at liberty he should like to speak with her.

Emily, who was in the kitchen with Thankful and Captain Obed, the latter
having, as usual, dropped in on his way to the postoffice, seemed in no
hurry to speak with Mr. Daniels. It was not until half an hour later,
when the message was repeated, that she bade the captain good night and
started for the living-room. Captain Obed and Thankful smiled at each
other.

"Heman's a heap more anxious to see her than she is to see him,"
observed the former. "He's pretty fur gone in that direction, judgin' by
the weather signs."

Thankful nodded.

"I cal'late that's so," she agreed. "Still, he's been just as fur gone
with others, if all they say's true. Mr. Daniels is a fascinator, so
everybody says."

"Yup. Prides himself on it, always seemed to me. But there generally
comes a time when that kind of a lady-killer gets hit himself. Lots of
females have been willin' to marry Heman,