Captain Candage walked down toward the fish-house with his daughter. “Polly,” he declared, after an embarrassed silence, “I have been all wrong in your case, girl. Here and now I give you clearance papers. Sail for home just as soon as you want to. I'm asking no questions! It's none of my business!” “My little affairs must always be business of yours, father,” she returned.. “I love you. I will obey you.” “But I ain't giving off no more orders. I ain't fit to command in the waters where you are sailing, Polly dear. So run along home and be my good girl! I know you will be!” “I have changed my mind about going home--just now!” Her eyes met his frankly. “I have written to Aunt Zilpah to send me some of my clothes. Father,” there was feminine, rather indignant amazement in her tones, “do you know that there isn't a single woman from Hue and Cry who knows how to use a needle?” “I might have guessed it, judging from the way their young ones and men folk go looking!” “Do you realize that those children don't even know their A-B-C's?” “Never heard of any college perfessers being raised on that island.” “I am going to take a vacation from the millinery-shop, now that I am down here. I'll show those women how to sew and cook, and I'll teach those children how to read. It's only right--my duty! I couldn't go home and be happy without doing it!” “Calling that a vacation is putting a polite name to it, Polly.” “If you could have seen their eyes, father, when I promised to help them, you wouldn't wonder why I am staying.” “I don't wonder, Polly, my girl! If you had gone away and--and left us--Mayo and me--I should have been mighty disappointed in ye! But I really never thought much about your going--'cause you wouldn't go, I knew, till you had helped all you could.” He put his arm around her. “I have been worrying about having brought you away. But I guess God had it all figgered out for us. I didn't know my own girl the way I ought to have knowed her. I'd been away too much. But now we're sort of growing up--together--sort of that, ain't we, Polly dear?” She put her arms about his neck and answered him with a kiss. XIV ~ BEARINGS FOR A NEW COURSE And now, my brave boys, comes the best of the fun, It's hands about ship and reef topsails in one; So it's lay aloft, topman, as the hellum goes down, And clew down your topsails as the mainyard goes round. --La Pique.