look of wonder.

"I don't wonder you're s'prised," he said, with a chuckle. "I ain't
begun to git over it yit, myself, and Lorenzo's so shook up he ain't
been in the house sence breakfast time. He's out in the barn, keepin'
Dan'l comp'ny and waitin' for the end of the world to strike, I
cal'late."

Ralph laughed. "Mrs. Snow?" he inquired.

"Mrs. Snow," answered the Captain. "It beats all what a woman can do
when she's that kind of a woman. She's done more swabbin' decks and
overhaulin' runnin' riggin' than a new mate on a clipper. The place is
so all-fired clean that I feel like brushin' myself every time I go to
set down."

"How's Captain Baxter?" asked Hazeltine.

"Seems to be some better. He come to a little this mornin', and seemed
to know some of us, but he ain't sensed where he is yit, nor I don't
b'lieve he will fur a spell. Set down and keep me comp'ny. It's my watch
jest now. Perez, he's over to Barry's; Jerry's up to the schoolhouse,
and Mrs. Snow's run up to the post-office to mail a letter. John's
asleep, so I can stay downstairs a little while, long's the door's open.
What's the news uptown? Web changed his mind ag'in 'bout the fire?"

It appeared that Mr. Saunders had not changed his mind, at least so
current gossip reported. And it may be remarked here that, curiously
enough, the opinion that the fire "caught itself" came at last to
be generally accepted in the village. For some weeks Captain Eri was
troubled with thoughts concerning the missing coat, but, as time passed,
and the accusing garment did not turn up, he came to believe that
some boy must have found it and that it had, in all probability, been
destroyed. There were, of course, some persons who still suspected John
Baxter as the incendiary, but the old man's serious illness and respect
for his former standing in the community kept these few silent. The
Baxter house had been locked up and the Captain had the key.

Hazeltine and his host chatted for a few minutes on various topics. The
gilt titles on the imposing "Lives of Great Naval Commanders,"
having received their share of the general dusting, now shone forth
resplendent, and the Captain noticed Ralph's eye as it involuntarily
turned toward them.

"Noticin' our library?" he chuckled. "Perez' property, that is. 'Gusty
Black talked him into buyin' 'em. Never met 'Gusty, did you? No, I
guess likely not. She lives over to the Neck, and don't git down to the
village much. 'Gusty's what