happen. And Melindy and Miss Howes look awful like each other. You're
real well, I hope, Miss Howes. After bein' exposed the way you was last
night I HOPE you haven't caught cold. You never can tell what'll follow
a cold--with some people."

Thankful was glad when the meal was over. She, too, was fearful that her
cousin might have taken cold during the wet chill of the previous night.
But Emily declared she was very well indeed; that the very sight of the
sunlit sea through the dining-room windows had acted like a tonic.

"Good enough!" exclaimed Captain Obed, heartily. "Then we ought to be
gettin' a bigger dose of that tonic. Mrs. Barnes, if you and Miss Howes
would like to walk over and have a look at that property of yours, now's
as good a time as any to be doin' it. I'll go along with you if I won't
be in the way."

Thankful looked down rather doubtfully at the borrowed gown she was
wearing, but Miss Parker came to the rescue by announcing that her
guests' own garments must be dry by this time, they had been hanging by
the stove all night. So, after the change had been made, the two left
the Parker residence and took the foot-path at the top of the bluff.
Captain Obed seemed at first rather uneasy.

"Hope I ain't hurryin' you too much," he said. "I thought maybe it would
be just as well to get out of sight of Hannah as quick as possible. She
might take a notion to come with us. I thought sure Kenelm would, but
he's gone on a cruise of his own somewheres. He hustled outdoor soon as
breakfast was over."

Emily burst out laughing. "Excuse me, please," she said, "but I've