as pullin' a spoon out of a kittle of soft-soap. I'll have to do some
persuadin', I guess. Wish my tongue was as soothin'-syrupy as that Mr.
Badger's is. But I'm goin' to do my best. And if talkin' won't do it
I'll--I swear I don't know as I shan't give him ether. Maybe he'd take
THAT if he could get it for nothin'. Good night."




CHAPTER V


"Well," said Thankful, with a sigh, "she's gone, anyhow. I feel almost
as if I'd cut my anchor rope and was driftin' out of sight of land. It's
queer, ain't it, how you can make up your mind to do a thing, and
then, when you've really started to do it, almost wish you hadn't. Last
night--yes, and this mornin'--I was as set on carryin' through this plan
of mine as a body could be, but just now, when I saw Emily get aboard
those cars, it was all I could do to keep from goin' along with her."

Captain Obed nodded. "Sartin," he agreed. "That's natural enough. When I
was a youngster I was forever teasin' to go to sea. I thought my dad was
meaner than a spiled herrin' to keep on sayin' no when I said yes. But
when he did say yes and I climbed aboard the stagecoach to start for
Boston, where my ship was, I never was more homesick in my life. I was
later on, though--homesick and other kinds."

They were standing on the station platform at Wellmouth Centre, and
the train which was taking Emily back to South Middleboro was a rapidly
moving, smoking blur in the distance. The captain, who seemed to