"I know--it's the harmony, like in music. The colors all seem to go together ... everything seems to belong. I like that, too, but it doesn't mean just that, to me. I see the Captain every time I step in here. It's a part of him--almost as if he had worked his own bigness and the kind of things he loves, into furniture and books and--fixings." "Yes, there's so much room to breathe here--I s'pose being at sea so much, he had to have that. And he picked up most of these things on his voyages--he must have wanted them pretty bad or he wouldn't have carried them half around the world with him." The young people had come over to the Captain's for supper. School had closed the day before, and Chicken Little was the proud possessor of an elaborate autograph album, won as a spelling prize. Captain Clarke had attended the closing exercises at her request. He had invited them over to celebrate, this evening. He declared he had never learned to spell himself and he wanted the honor of entertaining some one who knew how. Chicken Little had brought the album along for the Captain's signature. "And write something, too, won't you? Something specially for me," she had begged winningly. "Have they all written something--specially for you, Chicken Little? I should like to read them." "I haven't asked very many people yet, just Mr. Clay and Grant Stowe and Mamie Jenkins' little sister--Mamie's in town you know. I asked Sherm, but he hasn't thought up anything." The Captain glanced at Sherm and smiled whimsically. "Now, if I were as young as Sherm, I shouldn't have to think up things--the trouble would be to restrain my eloquence." Sherm grinned and looked uncomfortable. The Captain was merciful; he changed the subject. "Isn't the middle of May a little early to close school?" "No, it is the usual time. You see the older children have to help at home as soon as the weather gets warm." "Of course. What are you going to do this summer?" "Wish Ernest was home," Jane answered pertly, but there was a wistful look in her eyes. Before the Captain could reply, Wing came to the door to announce a man to see him. The Captain was gone some time. When he returned, he explained that it was a buyer from Kansas City after his corn, and he should have to leave them to entertain themselves for a while. "I'll tell you what you can do," he paused in the doorway as the idea occurred to him. "You two may rummage in the drawers of the cabinet. Take out anything you like the looks of. I think you will find a lot of interesting stuff there. Make yourselves at home." They lingered, discussing the room for several minutes after his departure, then Jane went over to the cabinet. "Come on--there are heaps of wonderful things here. He showed me some of them the day I ran off and came to see him on my own hook. That's a year ago! My, I feel as if it were a dozen--it seems as if I were just a little girl then." "And now?" Sherm adored to set Jane off.