way. Keturah gave, as her opinion, that if the captain knew when he was
well off, he would "take his meals out." Asaph snorted and intimated
that that Debby Beasley wasn't fit to "keep house in a pigsty, and
anybody but a born gump would have known it." Bailey, the "born gump,"
said nothing, but looked appealingly at his chum.

As for Captain Cy, he did not take the trouble to affirm or deny the
rumors. Peace and quiet dominated the Whittaker house for the first time
in three weeks and its owner was happier. He cooked his own food and
washed his own dishes. The runaway cat ventured to return, found other
viands than beans in its saucer, and decided to remain, purring thankful
contentment. The captain made his own bed, after a fashion, when he was
ready to occupy it, but he was conscious that it might be better made.
He refused, however, to spend his time in sweeping and dusting, and
the dust continued to accumulate on the carpets and furniture. This
condition of affairs troubled him, but he kept his own counsel. Asaph
and Bailey called often, but they offered no more suggestions as to
hiring a housekeeper. Mr. Tidditt might have done so, but the captain
gave him no encouragement. Mr. Bangs, recent humiliation fresh in his
mind, would as soon have suggested setting the house on fire.

One evening Asaph happened in, on his way to Simmons's. He desired
the captain to accompany him to that gathering place of the wise and
talkative. Captain Cy was in the sitting room, a sheet of note paper in
his hand. The town clerk entered without ceremony and tossed his hat on
the sofa.

"Evenin', Ase," observed the captain, folding the sheet of paper and
putting it into his pocket. "Glad you come. Sit down. I wanted to ask
you somethin'."