kes you sick. Somethin' else takes out the spots. I know now; it's
am-monia. It's very good for spots but you mustn't smell the bottle. I
smelled the bottle once and it went right up into my head."

"What on earth are you talkin' about? The bottle went up into your
head!"

"No, the ammonia smell did. It was awful; like--like--" she paused,
evidently in search of a simile; "like sneezin' backwards," she added.
"It was terrible."

Isaiah laughed. "I should think 'twould be," he declared. "Sneezin'
backwards! Ho, ho! That's a good one!"

Mary-'Gusta's eyes were still fixed upon the apron.

"Mr.--I mean Cap'n Gould said you was the cook and steward," she
observed. "I don't know as I know what a steward is, exactly. Is it the
one that stews things?"

"Ha, ha!" roared Isaiah. Mary-'Gusta's dignity was hurt. The color rose
in her cheeks.

"Was it funny?" she asked. "I didn't know. I know that a cook cooked
things, and a baker baked things, so I thought maybe a steward stewed
'em."

Mr. Chase continued to chuckle. The girl considered.

"I see," she said, with a solemn nod. "It was funny, I guess. I remember
now that a friar doesn't fry things. He is a--a kind of minister. Friar
Tuck was one in 'Robin Hood,' you know. Mrs. Bailey read about him to
me. Do you like 'Robin Hood,' Mr. Chase?"

Isaiah said he didn't cal'late that he knew anybody of that name. The
dialogue was interrupted here by the arrival of Zoeth and, a moment
later, Captain Shadrach. Breakfast was put upon the table in the
dining-room and the quartette sat down to eat.

Mary-'Gusta was quiet during the meal; she answered when spoken to but
the only questions she asked were concerning David.

"He's all right," said Captain Shad. "Lively as can be. He'll have a
good time out in that barn; there's considerable many mice out there.
Likes mice, don't he?"

"Yes, sir. He's a good mouser. Did he look as if he missed me?"

"Eh? Well, I didn't notice. He never mentioned it if he did. You can
go see him after breakfast. What do you think she can find to do today,
Zoeth?"

Mr. Hamilton had evidently considered the problem.

"I thought maybe she'd like to go up to the store 'long of you and me,"
he suggested. "Would you, Mary'Gusta?"

Mary-'Gusta hesitated. "I'd like to very much," she said, "only--"

"Only what?"

"Only I've got to see to David and the dolls first. Couldn't I come up
to the store afterwards?"

The Captain answered. "Why, I guess l