“Well, I kept thinkin’ and thinkin’ and one day last week Ezra Hopkins, that’s the butcher cart feller, he and me was talkin’ and he says:  ‘Trade ain’t very brisk up to the store, is it?’ he says.  ’Everybody says ‘tain’t.’  ‘Then if everybody knows so much what d’ye ask me for?’ says I.  ‘Oh, don’t get mad,’ says he.  ‘But I tell you this, Isaiah,’ he says, ’if Mary-’Gusta Lathrop hadn’t gone away to that fool Boston school things would have been different with Hamilton and Company.  She’s a smart girl and a smart business woman.  I believe she’d have saved the old fellers,’ he says.  ‘She was up-to-date and she had the know-how,’ says he.  Well, I kept thinkin’ what he said and—­and—­well, I wrote.  For the land sakes don’t tell Shad nor Zoeth that I wrote, but I’m glad I done it.  I don’t know’s you can do anything, I don’t know’s anybody can, but I’m mighty glad you’re here, Mary-’Gusta.”

Mary sighed.  “I’m glad I am here, too, Isaiah,” she agreed, “although I, too, don’t know that I can do anything.  But,” she added solemnly, “I am going to try very hard.  Now we mustn’t let Uncle Shad or Uncle Zoeth know that I have heard about their trouble.  We must let them think I am at home for an extra holiday.  Then I shall be able to look things over and perhaps plan a little.  When I am ready to tell what I mean to do I can tell the rest. . . .  Sshh!  Here comes one of them now.  It’s Uncle Zoeth.  Look happy, Isaiah!  Happy—­not as if you were choking to death!  Well, Uncle Zoeth, aren’t you surprised to see me?”

Surprised he certainly was; at first, like Isaiah, he could scarcely believe she was really there.  Then, naturally, he wished to know why she was there.  She dodged the questions as best she could and Zoeth, innocent and truthful as always, accepted without a suspicion her vague explanation concerning an opportunity to run down and see them for a little while.  Dinner was put on the table and then Isaiah hastened up to relieve Shadrach at the store in order that the partners and Mary might eat together.

The Captain arrived a few minutes later, red-faced, vociferous, and joyful.

“Well,” he shouted, throwing his arms about her and kissing her with a smack which might have been heard in Abner Bacheldor’s yard, “if this ain’t a surprise!  Zoeth said this mornin’ he felt as if somethin’ was goin’ to happen, and then Isaiah upset the tea kittle all over both my feet and I said I felt as if it had happened.  But it hadn’t, had it!  Well, if it ain’t good to look at you, Mary-’Gusta!  How’d you happen to come this time of year?  Has the schoolhouse foundered?”