"She was a pretty fair sailor after the first week," said the captain with a twinkle in his eye. He was very much wrinkled and weather-beaten, but jolly and good-humored. "And now, sissy, I'm glad you're safe with your folks, and I hope you'll grow up into a nice clever woman. 'Taint no use wishin' you good looks, for you're purty as a pink now--one of them rather palish kind. But you'll soon have red cheeks." Doris had very red cheeks for a moment. Betty leaned over to her brother, and whispered: "What a splendid opportunity lost! Aunt Priscilla ought to be here to say, 'Handsome is as handsome does.'" Then Captain Grier shook hands all round and took his departure. Afterward the two men discussed business about the little girl. There must be another trustee, and papers must be taken out for guardianship. They would go to the court-house, say at eleven to-morrow, and put everything in train. Betty took out some knitting. It was a stocking of fine linen thread, and along the instep it had a pretty openwork pattern that was like lace work. "That is to wear with slippers," she explained to Doris. "But it's a sight of work. 'Lecty had six pairs when she was married. That's my second sister, Mrs. King. She lives in Hartford. I want to go and make her a visit this winter." Mrs. Leverett's stocking was of the more useful kind, blue-gray yarn, thick and warm, for her husband's winter wear. She did not have to count stitches and make throws, and take up two here and three there. "Warren," said his mother, when he had poked the fire until she was on 'pins and needles,'--they didn't call it nervous then,--"Warren, I am 'most out of corn. I wish you'd go shell some." "The hens do eat an awful lot, seems to me. Why, I shelled only a few nights ago." "I touched bottom when I gave them the last feed this afternoon. By spring we won't have so many," nodding in a half-humorous fashion. "Don't you want to come out and see me? You don't have any Indian corn growing in England, I've heard." "Did it belong to the Indians?" asked Doris. "I rather guess it did, in the first instance. But now we plant it for ourselves. _We_ don't, because father sold the two-acre lot, and they're bringing a street through. So now we have only the meadow." Doris looked at the uncles, but she couldn't understand a word they were saying. "Come!" Warren held out his hand. "Put the big kitchen apron round her, Warren," said Betty, thinking of her silk gown. He tied the apron round her neck and brought back the strings round her waist, so she was all covered. Then he found her a low chair, and poked the kitchen fire, putting on a pine log to make a nice blaze. He brought out from the shed a tub and a basket of ears of corn. Across the tub he laid the blade of an old saw and then sat on the end to keep it firm. "Now you'll see business. Maybe you've never seen any corn before?" She looked over in the basket, and then took up an ear with a mysterious expression.