en he gets older, and wants to
go into business, here or elsewhere, Captain Pelham will look after him
just the same as if he were his guardian. The other grandfather has n't
got the means to advance him. I am not at all afraid about that," he
said; "the only question here is, where he shall be deposited for the
next five or six years. Either place is good enough. His father had a
right to fix it by will if he had chosen to; but he did n't, and I think
we must consider it a matter for the women to settle: they know best
about such things. It is plain that his mother thought it would be best
for him to stay where he is, and she knew best. He 's wonted there, and
wants to stay."

Then he took up his pen and wrote on Captain Pelham's petition an order
of dismissal. On the other he filled out and signed the decree granting
guardianship to James Parsons, and approved the bond. Then he handed the
papers to the register and called the next case.

From this day on, little was seen of Captain Pelham at James's house.
Sometimes he would stop in his buggy and take the boy off with him for
a little stay; but Joe soon wearied of formality, and grew restless
for James, for his grandmother Parsons, for the free life of the little
wharf and the shore. Life always opened fresh to him on his return.

Once and only once Captain Pelham entered James's door-yard. James was
sitting in an armchair under an apple-tree by the well, smoking and
reading the paper. The Captain began, this time, with no introduction.

"Fred Gooding," he said, "tells me you are talking of letting Joe go out
with Pitts in his boat You know Pitts is no fit man."

"You tell Fred Gooding he don't know what he 's talking about," said
James, as he rose from his chair, holding the paper in his hand. "What
I told Pitts was just the contr'y,--the boy should n't go along o' him."
Then his anger began to rise. "But what right you got," he demanded, "to
interfere? 'T ain 't none of your business who I let him go along of.
It's me that's the boy's guardeen."

"Very well," said the Captain. "Only I tell you fairly,--the first
time I get word of anything, I 'll go to the probate court and have you
removed!"

James followed him down the path with derisive laughter. "Why don't you
go to the probate court?" he said; "you hed great luck before!" And
as the Captain drove away, James shouted after him, "Go to the probate
court! Go to the probate court!"

V.

There is a