e
interview between Captain Obed and herself she said not a word. She
it was who first mentioned John Kendrick's name. Emily was at first
disinclined to speak of the young lawyer, but, little by little, as her
cousin hinted and questioned, she said more and more. Thankful learned
what she wished to learn, and it was what she had suspected. She learned
something else, too, something which concerned another citizen of East
Wellmouth.

"I knew it!" she cried. "I didn't believe 'twas so, and I as much as
told Cap'n Obed 'twasn't this very day--no, yesterday, I mean. When a
body don't go to bed at all the days kind of run into one another."

"What did you know?" asked Emily. "What were you and Captain Obed
talking of that concerned me?"

"Nothin', nothin', dear. It didn't concern you one bit, and 'twasn't
important. . . . Hi hum!" rising and looking out of the window.
"It's gettin' brighter fast now. Looks as if we might have a pleasant
Christmas, after all. Wonder how poor Jedediah'll feel when he wakes up.
I hope he slept warm anyhow. I piled on comforters and quilts enough to
smother him."

Her attempt at changing the subject was successful. Emily's next
question concerned Jedediah.

"What are you goin' to do with him, Auntie?" she asked. "He must stay
here, mustn't he?"

"Course he must. I'll never trust him out of my sight again. He ain't
competent to take care of himself and so I'll have to take care of him.
Well," with a sigh, "it'll only be natural, that's all. I've been used
to takin' care of somebody all my days. I wonder how 'twould seem to
have somebody take care of me for a change? Not that there's liable to
be anybody doin' it," she added hastily.

"Jedediah might be useful to work about the place here," said Emily.
"You will always need a hired man, you know."

"Yes, but I don't need two, and I couldn't discharge Kenelm on Imogene's
account. What that girl ever got engaged to that old image for is more'n
I can make out or ever shall."

Emily smiled. "I shouldn't worry about Imogene," she said. "I think she
knows perfectly well what she is about."

"Maybe so, but if she does, then her kind of knowledge is different from
mine. If I was goin' to marry anybody in that family 'twould be Hannah;
she's the most man of the two."

Imogene herself came down a few minutes later. She was much surprised
to find her mistress and Miss Howes dressed and in the kitchen. Also she
was very curious.

"Who's that