Wonder it
didn't kill him."
Miss Parker nodded. "That's what I say," she declared. "And
Sarah--that's his wife--tells me the doctors are real worried because
the fraction ain't ignited yet."
Thankful coughed and then observed that she should think they would be.
"If you don't mind," she added, "I think it's high time all hands went
to bed. It must be way along into the small hours and if we set here any
longer it'll be time for breakfast. You folks must be tired, settin' up
this way and I'm sure Emily and I am. If we turn in now we may have a
chance to look over that precious property of mine afore we go back to
South Middleboro. I don't know, though, as we haven't seen enough of it
already. It don't look very promisin' to me."
The captain rose from the table and, walking to the window, pushed aside
the shade.
"It'll look better tomorrow--today, I should say," he observed. "The
storm's about over, and the wind's hauled to the west'ard. We'll have a
spell of fair weather now, I guess. That property of yours, Mrs. Barnes,
'll look a lot more promisin' in the sunshine. There's no better view
along shore than from the front windows of that house. 'Tain't half bad,
that old house ain't. All it needs is fixin' up."
Good nights--good mornings, for it was after two o'clock--were said and
the guests withdrew to their bedroom. Once inside, with the door shut,
Thankful and Emily looked at each other and both burst out laughing.
"Oh, dear me!" gasped the former, wiping her eyes.
Pages:
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58