I'm
awful glad for myself, but I do feel mean about Imogene, just the same."
A few minutes later, the auto, with John, Emily and Thankful on the rear
seat and Captain Obed in front with the driver, rolled out of the yard
and along the sandy road toward Wellmouth Centre. About a mile from the
latter village it passed a buggy with two people in it. The pair in the
buggy were Caleb Hammond and Hannah Parker.
Captain Obed chuckled. "There go the sweethearts," he observed.
"Handsome young couple, ain't they?"
The other occupants of the car joined in the laugh. Emily, in
particular, was greatly amused.
"Why do you call them sweethearts, Captain?" she asked. "You don't
really suppose--"
The captain burst into a laugh.
"What? Those two?" he said. "No, no, I was only jokin'. I don't know
about Hannah--single women her age are kind of chancey--but I do know
Caleb. He ain't takin' a wife to support, not unless she can support
him. He had a chance to use a horse and buggy free for nothin', that's
all; and it would be against his principles to let a chance like that go
by. Cal'late he took Hannah 'cause he knew ice cream and peanuts don't
agree with her dyspepsy and so he wouldn't have to buy any. Ho, ho! I
wonder how Kenelm made out? Wonder if he went on his own hook, after
all?"
In the kitchen of the High Cliff House Imogene was washing the breakfast
dishes and trying to forget her disappointment. A step sounded in the
woodshed and, turning, she beheld Mr.
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