his idea of hospitality. The spare room was always ready for the
possible guest.

"Good-night, uncle," she said, smiling at him as he handed her the
lamp. "I believe I am going to have a delightful time here."

"Of course you be! Of course!" he exclaimed. "An' if I ain't here,
Cap'n Am'zon will show you a better time than I could. Good-night.
Sleep well, Louise."

He kissed her on the forehead. But she, impulsively, pressed her fresh
lips to the storekeeper's weather-beaten cheek. Before she closed the
door of the bedroom she heard him clumping downstairs in his heavy
boots.

After that he must have removed his footgear for, although she heard
doors open and close, she could not distinguish his steps.

"I'm glad I came!" she told herself with enthusiasm as she prepared to
retire. "What a delightful old place it is! And Uncle Abram--why,
he's a _dear_! Daddy-prof was not half enthusiastic enough about the
Cape Cod folk. It has been a distinct loss to me that I was never here
before."

She laid out her toilet requisites upon the painted pine bureau and
hung her negligee over the back of a chair. As she retied the ribbon
in one of the sleeves of her nightgown she thought:

"And that Tapp boy came back a second time! Some fisherman's son, I
suppose. But exceedingly nice looking!"