"No. It's just another proof of my tremendous wisdom. Well, I'm glad, George." "I knew you would be. Mind you, I'm not sure yet I was wrong, but I---- Good Lord, look at the rain! I had no idea!... Well, at any rate, Elizabeth will be all right. She's going with you in the buggy." There was a slight, a very slight note of regret, almost of envy, in the young fellow's tone. The captain noticed it. "No, she isn't, George," he said, quietly. "What! She isn't?" "No, she's goin' with you. You take the horse and buggy and drive her up to the Harbor. Then you can send Judah back with it after me, if you will." "But, Cap'n, I wouldn't think of it. Why----" "No need to think. Do it. Look here, George, you know perfectly well you haven't finished that ice-choppin' business. There are lots of things you want to tell her yet, I know. Come now, aren't there?" Kent hesitated. "Why--why, yes, I suppose there are," he admitted. "But it seems mean to take advantage of you, you know. To leave you standing here and waiting while she and I----" "That's all right. I'm better fitted for waiting than I am for anything else nowadays. Don't argue any more. She'll be here in a minute." "Well ... well. You're sure you don't mind, really?" "Not a bit. And she'd rather ride with you, of course." "Oh, I wouldn't say that. Of course she did tell me she came with you because I--because we had that--that little row--and---- But she likes you, Cap'n. Honest, she does, a lot. By George, nobody could help liking you, you know." Sears' smile was gray, but his companion did not notice. He was too full of his own happiness. "I'll run up and tell her," he said. "It's mighty good of you, Cap'n Kendrick. Sure you don't care? You _are_ a brick." He hastened up the stairs. Sears was left once more with the black wetness to look at. It looked blacker than ever. Elizabeth, accompanied by George, came down soon afterward. She was still protesting. "Really, I don't think this is right at all, Cap'n Kendrick," she declared. "Why should you wait here? If you insist upon George's going in the buggy, why don't you come too? I'm sure there will be room enough. Won't there, George?" Kent said, "Yes, of course," but there might have been more enthusiasm in his tone. Sears spoke next. "I can't go now," he lied, calmly. "I want to see Ase Tidditt and he's gone to see Cap'n Orrin's wife home. Won't be back for twenty minutes or so. No, no, you and George heave right ahead and go, and then send Judah and the Foam Flake back for me." So, after a few more protests on Elizabeth's part, it was settled in that way. She and her packages and bags were tucked in the buggy and George unhitched the placid Foam Flake. On his way he stopped to whisper in the captain's ear. "Cap'n Kendrick," he whispered, "I shan't forget this. And, say, if ever I get into real trouble I'll know who to come to."