“You don’t look merry as a Christmas tree, Sim,” he observed.  “What did his Majesty have to say to you?”

Simeon related the talk with Williams.  The depot master’s grim smile grew broader.

“Sim,” he asked, with quiet sarcasm, “don’t you realize that progressive methods are necessary in movin’ a house?”

Phinney tried to smile in return, but the attempt was a failure.

“Yes,” went on the Captain.  “Well, if you can’t take the Grand Panjandrum home, you can set on the fence and see him go by.  That ought to be honor enough, hadn’t it?  However, I may need some of your ridiculous figgers on a movin’ job of my own, pretty soon.  Don’t be too comical, will you?”

“What do you mean by that, Sol Berry?”

“I mean that I may decide to move my own house.”

“Move your own house?  Where to, for mercy sakes?”

“To that lot on Main Street that belongs to Abner Payne.  Abner has wanted to buy my lot here on the Shore Road for a long time.  He knows it’ll make a fine site for some rich bigbug’s summer ‘cottage.’  He would have bought the house, too, but I think too much of that to sell it.  Now Abner’s come back with another offer.  He’ll swap my lot for the Main Street one, pay my movin’ expenses and a fair ‘boot’ besides.  He don’t really care for my house, you understand; it’s my land he’s after.”

“Are you goin’ to take it up?”

“I don’t know.  The Main Street lot’s a good one, and my house’ll look good on it.  And I’ll make money by the deal.”

“Yes, but you’ve always swore by that saltwater view of yours.  Told me yourself you never wanted to live anywheres else.”

Captain Sol took the cigar from his lips, looked at it, then threw it violently into the gutter.

“What difference does it make where I live?” he snarled.  “Who in blazes cares where I live or whether I live at all?”

“Sol Berry, what on airth—­”

“Shut up!  Let me alone, Sim!  I ain’t fit company for anybody just now.  Clear out, there’s a good feller.”

The next moment he was striding down the hill.  Mr. Phinney drew a long breath, scratched his head and shook it solemnly.  What did it all mean?

CHAPTER VIII

THE OBLIGATIONS OF A GENTLEMAN

The methods of Messrs. Colt and Adams, the Boston firm of building movers, were certainly progressive, if promptness in getting to work is any criterion.  Two days after the acceptance of their terms by Mr. Williams, a freight car full of apparatus arrived at East Harniss.  Then came a foreman and a gang of laborers.  Horses were hired, and within a week the “pure Colonial” was off its foundations and on its way to the Edwards lot.  The moving was no light task.  The big house must be brought along the Shore Road to the junction with the Hill Boulevard, then swung into that aristocratic highway and carried up the long slope, around the wide curve, to its destination.