"Whatever!" he confided to 'Liphalet Truitt. "I'd give one of my laigs--neither of 'em's much good when the rheumatism is in 'em--or an arm if I could pay Sarah Petty back for some of her meanness to Pearly. It's gettin' 'nough to sp'il the temper of a saint--and I ain't none!" 'Liphalet's heart was heavy and his face as long as the moral law, but he still could feel sympathy for his friend, and for Pearly as well. "I tell ye what, Cap'n Jonah," he said, "le's you an' me step down to Cap'n Abe's this very evenin' and put it up to him. I tell ye, he's a knowledgeable man." "Wa-al," responded the captain, about at his wit's end and willing to take almost any chance for advice that might aid in the situation. Limping up and down the frozen road after supper that evening, leaning rather heavily on his stick, and waiting for the ex-steward to put in an appearance, Cap'n Jonah was hailed by what he had been pleased to term "that spanking craft," Miss Sue Ambrose. She was returning from some errand of mercy with an empty basket. For if a neighbor was ill or poor, the doctor's sister was first with aid and comfort. "Good evening, Cap'n Jonah," was her cheerful greeting. "Isn't it rather raw for you to be out with your rheumatism?" "Whatever!" exploded Cap'n Jonah. "I got to be out some, and I can't leave the dratted rheumatics to home. Wish I could." "Poor old Suz Montevedo is down, all alone in his cabin. He has the inflammatory kind and unless his granddaughter runs in to see him, he is all alone 'way over there beyond Tapp Point." "Wal," said the captain, his eyes glowing with admiration, "I bet you don't neglect him, Miss Sue." "Oh, I do what I can," said the little woman, visibly blushing in the starlight. "And a feller laid on his beam ends ought not to want no better care than you'd give him, ma'am," said the old mariner gallantly. "If I'm laid by, myself, I hope I'll git ha'f as good." "You'll have Pearly to nurse you, Captain," laughed Miss Sue. "And she is a dear girl." "Like enough! Like enough!" murmured Cap'n Jonah, as the little woman went her way. "But the feller that got you--an' your forty thousand dollars--would be mighty well off, an' no mistake. Hullo! Here's 'Liphalet at last." The ex-steward had been halted by the doctor's sister for a moment. When he reached Cap'n Jonah his countenance was stormy and his lips grimly set. "That there Miss Sue, Truitt, is a mighty sweet sailin' craft," observed the captain. "For a man of your age, say, she'd make a proper mate." 'Liphalet growled something inaudible. "And they tell me she's wuth forty thousand dollars in her own right," pursued the captain. "By Hannah!" exploded the ex-steward. "What's that?" responded Cap'n Jonah, startled. "Hum! I forgot somethin'," was 'Liphalet's rather weak explanation. He seemed to have no interest at all in Sue Ambrose and her reported fortune.