"Yus," said Mr. Tidditt. "Who?" "Me. He, he, he! Kind of caught you that time, didn't I, Cap'n? Wasn't expectin' that, was you? Except me, you and 'Liz'beth's the fust ones. Be plenty more in half an hour, though. 'Bout all hands in Bayport's comin' to this time, everybody but the Orthodox and the Methodists and the Come-Outers. They cal'late goin' to a play-actin' time is same as goin' to Tophet. I tell 'em I'd ruther go to the show, 'cause I'd have a little fun out of it, and from what I hear there ain't much fun in t'other place. He, he, he! But say, how'd it happen George Kent ever let 'Liz'beth Berry go anywheres without him? Where _is_ George?" Sears was rather glad when the arrival of Sam Ryder and Carleton, two other members of the cast of "Down by the Sea" attracted the attention of the garrulous Asaph and led the latter, in their company, upstairs. A moment or so later another figure approached from the blackness to the circle of light cast by the big ship's lantern over the hall door. "Why, hello, George!" hailed Sears. Young Kent looked up, recognized the speaker and said "Good evening." He did not seem surprised as Mr. Tidditt had been to find the captain there. The latter remarked upon it. "Why, George," he observed, "I must say you take my bein' here all alone pretty calmly. Ase Tidditt all but capsized when he saw me bring the Foam Flake into dock." Kent nodded. "I knew you were here," he said. "Elizabeth came down with you, I suppose." "Why, yes. Did she tell you she was goin' to risk life and limb aboard my vessel?" "No," briefly. "Oh. Then how did you know?" "I stopped at the Harbor. Her mother said she had gone with you.... Where is she; upstairs?" "Up in the dressin' room, I guess. She had to come so early because there were things to bring and some work for her to do before you and the others got here, she said." "What? Did she say before _I_ got here?" "Eh? Why, no, didn't mention you in particular. She just said----" Kent interrupted. "I see," he said, shortly. "All right, never mind." He was walking toward the other end of the platform. His manner was so very peculiar that Sears could not help noticing it. He looked after him in perplexity. "Here ... George!" he called. Kent turned and came back, rather reluctantly it seemed. The older man looked at him keenly. "George," he asked, "what's the matter with you?" "Matter? With me?" "Yes, with you. You're short as Aunt Nabby's pie crust. Have I done anything you don't like? If I have I'll apologize before I know what it is. It wasn't done on purpose, you can be sure of that." Kent started, colored, and was much perturbed. "I didn't realize I was short, Cap'n Kendrick," he declared. "I beg your pardon. I am mighty sorry. No--no, of course you haven't done anything I don't like. I don't believe you could." "You never can tell. But so far I haven't tried. Not sick, are you?"