Captain Eri brusquely replied that his friend was "'bout the same," and
asked if Mr. Saunders intended to rebuild. "Web" didn't know just yet.
He was a poor man, didn't carry much insurance, and so on. Thought
likely he should fix up again if it didn't cost too much. Did the Doctor
say whether Captain Baxter would pull through or not?

Captain Eri gave an evasive answer and turned away. He was silent for
some little time, and when Ralph commented on "Web's" overnight change
of manner, his rejoinder was to the effect that "ile was bound to rise,
but that didn't mean there wa'n't dirty water underneath." On the way
home he asked Hazeltine concerning the trouble at the cable station, and
how Mr. Langley had treated the matter.

Ralph replied that Mr. Langley had said nothing to him about it. It was
his opinion that the old gentleman understood the affair pretty well,
and was not disposed to blame him. As for the men, they had been as
docile as lambs, and he thought the feeling toward himself was not as
bitter as it had been. All of which his companion said he was glad to
hear.

They separated at the gate, and the Captain entered the house to find
Mrs. Snow wielding a broom and surrounded by a cloud of dust. Perez
was upstairs with the patient, and Captain Jerry, whose habits had been
considerably upset by the sweeping, was out in the barn.

That evening the situation was explained to Mrs. Snow by Captain Eri, in
accordance with the talk at the breakfast table. The lady from Nantucket
understood and respected Captain Jerry's unwillingness to discuss the
marriage question while John Baxter's condition continued critical, and
she agreed to act as nurse and housekeeper for a while, at least,