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〃Indeed you won't；〃 indignantly。 〃I have too high an opinion of
men for that。〃
She smiled again； seemed about to speak； and then to change her
mind。 An instant later she said；
〃I must go in now。 But I shall hope to see you again before I go
back to the city。 And； after your secret is out and the engagement
is announced； I want to write Madeline； may I？〃
〃Of course you may。 And she'll like you as much as I do。〃
〃Will she？ 。 。 。 Well； perhaps； we'll hope so。〃
〃Certainly she will。 And you won't let my treating you asas I
have make any difference in our friendship？〃
〃No。 We shall always be friends； I hope。 Good…by。〃
She went into the house。 He waited a moment； hoping she might turn
again before entering； but she did not。 He walked home； pondering
deeply； his thoughts a curious jumble of relief and dissatisfaction。
He was glad Helen had seen her duty and given him over to Madeline；
but he felt a trifle piqued to think she had done it with such
apparent willingness。 If she had wept or scolded it would have been
unpleasant but much more gratifying to his self…importance。
He could not help realizing； however； that her attitude toward him
was exceptionally fine。 He knew well that he； if in her place；
would not have behaved as she had done。 No spite； no sarcasm； no
taunts； no unpleasant reminders of things said only a few months
before。 And with all her forgiveness and forbearance and
understanding there had been always that sense of greater age and
wisdom； she had treated him as she might have treated a boy；
younger brother； perhaps。
〃She IS older than I am；〃 he thought； 〃even if she really isn't。
It's funny； but it's a fact。〃
December came and Christmas； and then January and the new year； the
year 1917。 In January； Z。 Snow and Co。 took its yearly account of
stock； and Captain Lote and Laban and Albert and Issachar were
truly busy during the days of stock…taking week and tired when
evening came。 Laban worked the hardest of the quartette； but Issy
made the most fuss about it。 Labe； who had chosen the holiday
season to go on one of his periodical vacations； as rather white
and shaky and even more silent than usual。 Mr。 Price； however；
talked with his customary fluency and continuity； so there was no
lack of conversation。 Captain Zelotes was moved to comment。
〃Issy；〃 he suggested gravely； looking up from a long column of
figures； 〃did you ever play 'Door'？〃
Issachar stared at him。
〃Play 'Door'？〃 he repeated。 〃What's that？〃
〃It's a game。 Didn't you ever play it？〃
〃No； don't know's I ever did。〃
〃Then you'd better begin right this minute。 The first thing to do
is to shut up and the next is to stay that way。 You play 'Door'
until I tell you to do somethin' else； d'you hear？〃
At home the week between Christmas and the New Year was rather
dismal。 Mr。 Keeler's holiday vacation had brought on one of his
fiancee's 〃sympathetic attacks；〃 and she tied up her head and hung
crape upon her soul； as usual。 During these attacks the Snow
household walked on tiptoe； as if the housekeeper were an invalid
in reality。 Even consoling speeches from Albert； who with Laban
when the latter was sober； enjoyed in her mind the distinction of
being the reincarnation of 〃Robert Penfold；〃 brought no relief to
the suffering Rachel。 Nothing but the news brought by the milkman；
that 〃Labe was taperin' off；〃 and would probably return to his desk
in a few days； eased her pain。
One forenoon about the middle of the month Captain Zelotes himself
stopped in at the post office for the morning mail。 When he
returned to the lumber company's building he entered quietly and
walked to his own desk with a preoccupied air。 For the half hour
before dinner time he sat there； smoking his pipe； and speaking to
no one unless spoken to。 The office force noticed his preoccupation
and commented upon it。
〃What ails the old man； Al？〃 whispered Issachar； peering in around
the corner of the door at the silent figure tilted back in the
revolving chair； its feet upon the corner of the desk。 〃Ain't said
so much as 'Boo' for up'ards of twenty minutes； has he？ I was in
there just now fillin' up his ink…stand and； by crimus； I let a
great big gob of ink come down ker…souse right in the middle of the
nice； clean blottin' paper in front of him。 I held my breath；
cal'latin' to catch what Stephen Peter used to say he caught when
he went fishin' Sundays。 Stevey said he generally caught cold when
he went and always caught the Old Harry when he got back。 I
cal'lated to catch the Old Harry part sure； 'cause Captain Lote is
always neat and fussy 'bout his desk。 But no； the old man never
said a word。 I don't believe he knew the ink was spilled at all。
What's on his mind； Al； do you know？〃
Albert did not know； so he asked Laban。 Laban shook his head。
〃Give it up； Al；〃 he whispered。 〃Somethin's happened to bother
him； that's sartin'。 When Cap'n Lote gets his feet propped up and
his head tilted back that way I can 'most generally cal'late he's
doin' some real thinkin'。 Real thinkin'yes； sir…eeum…hmyes
yes。 When he h'ists his boots up to the masthead that way it's
safe to figger his brains have got steam up。 Um…hmyes indeed。〃
〃But what is he thinking about？ And why is he so quiet？〃
〃I give up both riddles； Al。 He's the only one's got the answers
and when he gets ready enough maybe he'll tell 'em。 Until then
it'll pay us fo'mast hands to make believe we're busy； even if we
ain't。 Hear that； do you； Is？〃
〃Hear what？〃 demanded Issachar； who was gazing out of the window；
his hands in his pockets。
〃I say it will pay usyou and Al and meto make believe we're
workin' even if we ain't。〃
〃'Workin'！〃 indignantly。 〃By crimus； I AM workin'！ I don't have to
make believe。〃
〃That so？ Well； then； I'd pick up that coal…hod and make believe
play for a spell。 The fire's 'most out。 Almostum…hmpretty
nighyesyes。〃
Albert and his grandfather walked home to dinner together； as was
their custom； but still the captain remained silent。 During dinner
he spoke not more than a dozen words and Albert several times
caught Mrs。 Snow regarding her husband intently and with a rather
anxious look。 She did not question him； however； but Rachel was
not so reticent。
〃Mercy on us； Cap'n Lote；〃 she demanded； 〃what IS the matter？
You're as dumb as a mouthful of mush。 I don't believe you've said
ay； yes or no since we sat down to table。 Are you sick？〃
Her employer's calm was unruffled。
〃No…o；〃 he answered； with deliberation。
〃That's a comfort。 What's the matter； then； don't you WANT to
talk？〃
〃No…o。〃
〃Oh；〃 with a toss of the head； 〃well； I'm glad I know。 I was
beginnin' to be afraid you'd forgotten how。〃
The captain helped himself to another fried 〃tinker〃 mackerel。
〃No danger of that around here； Rachel；〃 he said serenely。 〃So
long as my hearin's good I couldn't forgetnot in this house。〃
Olive detained her grandson as he was following Captain Zelotes
from the dining room。
〃What's wrong with him； Albert？〃 she whispered。 〃Do you know？〃
〃No； I don't； Grandmother。 Do you think there is anything wrong？〃
〃I