"I know you will, Mary-'Gusta. I'm ashamed of my hintin'. God bless you,
dearie. Now kiss me good night."

He kissed her and, holding her in his arms, looked fondly down into her
eyes. And, as she returned his look, suddenly she blushed crimson and
hid her face in his jacket. Then she broke away and with a good night
ran from the room and up the stairs.

Shadrach looked after her, sighed, and, after finishing his locking up,
went upstairs himself. There was a light in his partner's room and he
entered to find Mr. Hamilton sitting at the little table with several
sheets of paper covered with figures spread out before him. The Captain
was so busy with his own thoughts that, for the moment, he did not
notice the papers.

"Zoeth," he said, "our Mary-'Gusta's changed into a grown-up woman. Even
this last summer has changed her. She don't look any older, and she's
prettier than ever, but she thinks different, and I have a notion that,
no matter how much we may want to, you and me ain't goin' to be able
to keep her to ourselves as we--Eh?" suddenly becoming aware of his
friend's occupation. "Are you still fussin' over those things? Didn't I
tell you not to worry any more, but to turn in and sleep?"

Zoeth shook his head. His usually placid, gentle face had lost some of
its placidity. He looked worn and worried and the shadows thrown by
the lamp deepened the lines in his forehead. He looked up over his
spectacles.

"Shadrach," he said, "I can't help it. I try not to worry and I try to
heave my burdens onto the Almighty, same as we're commanded, but I can't