“Is it possible!” he exclaimed. “Is it possible that this is really my old playmate Cyrus Whittaker?” “Yup,” replied the captain calmly. “How are you, Heman? Fatter'n you used to be, ain't you? Washin'ton must agree with you.” Bailey and Asaph were scandalized. Mr. Atkins himself seemed a trifle taken aback. Comments on his personal appearance were not usual in Bayport. But he rallied bravely. “Well, well!” he cried. “Cyrus, I am delighted to welcome you back among us. I should scarcely have known you. You are older--yes, much older.” “Well, forty year more or less, added to what you started with, is apt to make a feller some older. Don't need any Normal School graduate to do that sum for us. I'm within seven or eight year of bein' as old as you are, Heman, and that's too antique to be sold for veal.” Mr. Atkins changed the subject. “I had heard of your return, Cyrus,” he said. “It gave me much pleasure to learn that you were rebuilding and--er--renovating the--er--the ancestral--er--” “The old home nest? Yup, I'm puttin' back a few feathers. Old birds like to roost comf'table. You've got a fairly roomy coop yourself.” “Hum! Isn't it--er--I should suppose you would find it rather expensive. Can you--do you--” “Yes, I can afford it, thank you. Maybe there'll be enough left in the stockin' to buy a few knickknacks for the yard. You can't tell.” The captain glanced at the iron dogs guarding the Atkins gate. His tone was rather sharp. “Yes, yes, certainly; certainly; of course. It gives me much pleasure to have you as a neighbor. I have always felt a fondness for the old place, even when you allowed it--even when it was most--er--run down, if you'll excuse the term. I always felt a liking for it and--” “Yes,” was the significant interruption. “I judged you must have, from what I heard.” This was steering dangerously close to the selectmen and the contemplated “sale for taxes.” The town clerk broke in nervously. “Mr. Atkins,” he said, “there's been consider'ble talk in town about who's to be teacher downstairs this comin' year. We've sort of chawed it over among us, but naturally we wanted your opinion. What do you think? I'm kind of leanin' toward the Dawes woman, myself.” The Congressman cleared his throat. “Far be it from me,” he said, “to speak except as a mere member of our little community, an ordinary member, but, AS such a member, with the welfare of my birthplace very near and dear to me, I confess that I am inclined to favor a modern teacher, one educated and trained in the institution provided for the purpose by our great commonwealth. The Dawes--er--person is undoubtedly worthy and capable in her way, but--well--er--we know that Wellmouth is not Bayport.”