"Hold your tongue! What right have you to complain? You always
attend them in their travels!"

"True, but you see for this last season they have both been staying
here, old master to watch the heiress, young master to court her,
and as I have no interest in that game, I find the time hangs heavy
on my hands," complained the man.

"It will hang heavier if you take a long fit of illness by standing
in wet clothes," muttered the woman.

"Why, so 'twill, missus! So here goes," assented the man, hurrying
across the hall and passing out through the door opposite that by
which he entered.

Dorcas returned to her guest.

Eying her closely for a while, she at length inquired:

"Capitola, how long have you lived at Hurricane Hall?"

"So long," replied Cap, "that you must have heard of me! I, at
least, have often heard of Mother Dorkey Knight."

"And heard no good of her!"

"Well, no--to be candid with you, I never did," said Cap.

"And much harm of her?" continued the woman, keeping her stern black