This, and the accompanying look, was too much. His visitor had been listening and trying to appear grave, although her eyes were twinkling. But now she burst out laughing. "Honest I wouldn't," reiterated Captain Sears. "And I'm sorry for that insult." "Absurd! You needn't be. If there was any insult it was the other way about. The idea of Elvira's suggesting that you came over there to steal. Well, we've settled the tramp, at any rate, and I apologize for the way you were treated, Mr.----" "Kendrick. My name is Kendrick." "Yes, Mr. Kendrick. And I am very sorry about the garden, too. Please tell Mr. Cahoon so, and tell him I think I can promise that the gate won't be left open again." "I'll tell him when he comes back. He'll be here pretty soon, I guess. He and I are old shipmates. He shipped cook aboard of me for a good many voyages." She was moving toward the path and the gate, but now she paused and turned to look at him. There was a new expression on her face, an expression of marked interest. "Oh!" she exclaimed. "Are you--are you Cap'n Sears Kendrick? The one who was--hurt?" "Wrecked in the train smash up? Yes, I'm the one. Look like a total wreck, don't I?" He laughed as he said it, but there was a taint of bitterness in the laugh. She did not laugh. Instead she took a step toward him and involuntarily put out her hand. "Oh, I'm _so_ sorry!" she said. "Eh? Oh, you needn't be. I'm gettin' along tip-top. Able to walk and ride and--er--chase hens. That's doin' pretty well for one day." "I know. But they were my--our--hens and they must have tired you so. Please forgive us. I won't," with a smile, "ask you to forgive them." "Oh, that's all right, that's all right, Miss--er----" "Berry. I am Elizabeth Berry. My mother is in charge here at the Harbor." "Harbor? Oh, yes, over yonder. Berry? Berry? The only Berry I remember around here was Cap'n Isaac Berry. Cap'n Ike, we young fellows used to call him. I went to sea with him once, my first voyage second mate." "Did you? He was my father. But there, I _must_ go. Good-by, Cap'n Kendrick. I hope you will get well very fast now." "Thanks. Good-bye. Oh, by the way, Miss Berry, what made you think I might be Sears Kendrick? There are half a dozen Kendricks around Bayport." "Yes, but--excuse me--there is only one Cap'n Sears Kendrick. You are one of Bayport's celebrities, Cap'n." "Humph! Notorieties, you mean. So all hands have been talkin' about me, eh? Humph! Well, I guessed as much." "Why, of course. You are one of our shining lights--sea lights, I mean. You must expect to be talked about." "I do--in Bayport, and I'll be talked about more in a day or two, I guess." "Why?" "Eh? Oh, nothin', nothin'. I was thinkin' out loud, didn't realize I spoke. Good-by." "Good-by." The gate closed behind her. Kendrick sat down once more upon the bench beneath the locust tree.