as again "asked out," and Mr. Daniels,
so he said, "called away." He had spent little time in East Wellmouth of
late, though no one seemed to know exactly where he had been or why.

The day before Christmas was cold and threatening. Late in the afternoon
it began to rain and the wind to blow. By supper time a fairly able
storm had developed and promised to develop still more. Captain Obed,
his arms filled with packages, all carefully wrapped and all mysterious
and not to be opened till the next day, came in just after supper.

"Where's that second mate of mine?" whispered the captain, anxiously.
When told that Georgie was in the kitchen with Imogene he sighed in
relief.

"Good!" he said. "Hide those things as quick as ever you can, afore he
lays eyes on 'em. He's sharper'n a sail needle, that young one is, and
if he can't see through brown paper he can GUESS through it, I bet you.
Take em away and put 'em out of sight--quick."

Emily hurried upstairs with the packages. Captain Obed turned to
Thankful.

"How is she these days?" he asked, with a jerk of the head in the
direction taken by Miss Howes.

"She's pretty well, or she says she is. I ain't so sure myself. I'm
afraid she thinks about--about HIM more than she makes believe. I'm
afraid matters between them two had gone farther'n we guessed."

Captain Obed nodded. "Shouldn't wonder," he said. "John looks pretty
peaked, too. I saw him just now."

"You did? John Kendrick? He's been out of town for a week or two, so I
heard. Where did you see him?"

"At the Centre depot. I was up to the Centre--er--buyin' a few things
and he got off the noon train."

"Did you speak to him?"

"Yes, or he spoke to me. He and I ain't said much to each other--what
little we've seen of each other lately--but that's been his fault more'n
'twas mine. He sung out to me this time, though, and I went over to the
platform. Say," after a moment's hesitation, "there's another thing
I want to ask you. How's Heman Daniels actin' since Emily come? Seems
more'n extry happy, does he?"

"Why--why, no. He's been away, too, a good deal; on business, he said."

"Humph! He and--er--Emily haven't been extra thick, then?"

"No. Come to think of it they've hardly seen each other. Emily has acted
sort of--sort of queer about him, too. She didn't seem to want to talk
about him more'n she has about John."

"Humph! That's funny. I can't make it out. You see Heman got on that
same train John got off