"Is he--satisfactory?" asked Miss Kilburn, feeling how far from
satisfactory the Victory was, and formulating an explanatory apology to the
committee in her mind.

"Oh yes, he's satisfactory enough, as far forth as that goes. He's
talented, and he's right up with the times. Yes, he's progressive. I guess
they got pretty tired of Mr. Rogers, even before he died; and they kept the
supply a-goin' till--all was blue, before they could settle on anybody. In
fact they couldn't seem to agree on anybody till Mr. Peck come."

Miss Kilburn had got as far, in her tacit interview with the committee, as
to have offered to replace at her own expense the Victory with a Volunteer,
and she seemed to be listening to Bolton with rapt attention.

"Well, it's like this," continued the farmer. "He's progressive in his
idees, 'n' at the same time he's spiritual-minded; and so I guess he suits
pretty well all round. Of course you can't suit everybody. There's always
got to be a dog in the manger, it don't matter where you go. But if anybody
was to ask me, I should say Mr. Peck suited. Yes, I don't know but what I
should."

Miss Kilburn instantaneously closed her transaction with the committee,
removed the Victory, and had the Volunteer unveiled with appropriate
ceremonies, opened with prayer by the Rev. Mr. Peck.

"Peck?" she said. "Did you tell me his name was Peck?"

"Yes, ma'am; Rev. Julius W. Peck. He's from down Penobscotport way, in
Maine. I guess he's all right."