re!" he shouted. "Hold on! What do you mean by that? Why shouldn't I
go into that house if I want to? Why shouldn't I?"

"I don't know; all I know is that you don't seem to want to. I can't say
why you don't want to, but--"

"But what?"

"But, maybe, if someone that's dead and gone was here--he could."

"He--he--who? What? Hi! Where you goin'?"

"I'm goin' home."

"No, you ain't--not until you tell me what you mean by--by somebody
that's dead and gone. What kind of talk is that? What do you mean?"

"Maybe I don't know what I mean, Solomon; but I think you do. If you
don't then your looks belie you, that's all."

She went out of the "henhouse." As she drove away she saw Mr. Cobb
peering at her through the window. He was "weeding" with both hands and
he looked agitated and--yes, frightened. Thankful was more than ever
certain that his mysterious behavior was in some way connected with his
past dealings with her Uncle Abner, but, not knowing what those dealings
might have been, the certainty was not likely to help her. And he had
not said that he would renew the mortgage.

Georgie was the first to meet her when she drove into the yard. He had
been spending the day with Captain Obed and had coaxed the latter into
telling him stories of Santa Claus. Georgie's mind was now filled with
anticipations of Christmas and Christmas presents, and his faith in
Santa, which had been somewhat shaken during his year at kindergarten in
South Middleboro, was reviving again. The captain and Imogene and Mrs.
Barnes all helped in the revival. "Christmas loses three-quarters of its
fun when old Santa's took out of it," declared Captain Obed. "I know,
'count of havin' been a young one myself a thousand year ago or
such matter. This'll probably be the second mate's last Santa Claus
Christmas, so let's keep this one the real thing for the boy."

So he and Imogene and Thankful--yes, even Kenelm--discussed Santa for
Georgie's benefit and Georgie believed, although his belief was not as
absolute and unquestioning as it had once been. He asked a great many
questions, some of which his elders found hard to answer. His dearest
wish was for an air-gun, but somehow Mrs. Barnes did not seem to think
the wish would be gratified. She had a strong presentiment that the
combination of Georgie and an air-gun and the chickens might not be a
desirable one, especially for the chickens.

"But why won't he bring it, Auntie?" demanded Georgie. "You say h