"Say it when you come back. And if Mr. Carver asks you why I sent that
envelope to him be sure and give him the message I gave you. Do you
remember it?"

"Sartin. That what you done wan't wuth so much."

"Not exactly. That what I saved wasn't worth it."

"All right. I'll remember. But what did you save, Ros? Dorindy says
'twas somethin' you found afloat in the bay. If it was somethin'
belongin' to them Coltons I'd have took the money, no matter what the
thing was wuth. They can afford to pay and, if I was you, I'd take the
reward."

"I have my reward. Now go."

I had my reward and I believed it worth much more than five dollars.
I had learned my lesson. I knew now exactly how I was regarded by the
occupants of the big house and by the townspeople as well. I should
cherish no more illusions as to my importance in their eyes. I meant to
be really independent from that time on. I did not care--really did not
care--for anything or anybody outside my immediate household. I was back
in the position I had occupied for years, but with one difference: I had
an ambition now. It was to make both sides in the Shore Lane controversy
realize that George Taylor was right when he said I had the whip-hand.
By the Almighty, they should dance when I cracked that whip!

My first opportunity to crack it came a day or two later, when Captain
Dean called upon me. He had a definite proposition to make, although
his Yankee shrewdness and caution prevented his making it until he had
discussed the weather and other unimportant trifles. Then he leaned
against the edge of my work-bench--we were in the boathouse--and began
to beat up to windward of his proposal.

"Ros," he said, "you remember I told you you was all right, when I met
you at the bank t'other day."

"I remember," I answered.

"Yes. Well, I cal'late you know what I meant by that."

I did not pretend ignorance of his meaning.

"I presume," I replied, "that you meant I was right in not selling that
strip of land to Mr. Colton."

"That's what I meant. You kept your promise to me and I shan't forget
it. Nor the town won't forget it, neither. Would you mind tellin' me
just what happened between you and His Majesty?"

"Not at all. He said he wanted to buy the Shore Lane strip and I refused
to sell it to him. He said I was crazy and an infernal robber and I told
him to go to the devil."

"WHAT! you didn't!"

"I did."

Captain Jed slapped his knee and shouted in delight