“Yes. She wouldn't divorce him. She said she had taken him for better or worse, and must stand by him. I tried to show her she was wrong, but it was no use. She did say she would never live with him again.” “I should say not. LIVE with him! By the everlastin'! if he ever comes within reach of my hands then--there's times when good honest murder is justifiable and righteous, and it'll be done. It'll be done, you hear me!” He looked as if he meant it. Ellery asked another question. “Did you tell her--Aunt Keziah--when you met her at the Narrows?” he asked. “No. But I shall tell her when I see her again. She shan't spoil her life--a woman like that! by the Lord! WHAT a woman!--for any such crazy notion. I swore it when I heard the story and I've sworn it every day since. That's what settled my mind about Grace. Keziah Coffin belongs to me. She always has belonged to me, even though my own pig-headedness lost her in the old days.” “She cares for you, Nat. I know that. She as much as told me so.” “Thank you, John. Thank you. Well, I can wait now. I can wait, for I've got something sure to wait for. I tell you, Ellery, I ain't a church-goin' man--not as dad was, anyway--but I truly believe that this thing is goin' to come out right. God won't let that cussed rascal live much longer. He won't! I know it. But if he does, if he lives a thousand years, I'll take her from him.” He was pacing the floor now, his face set like granite. Ellery rose, his own face beaming. Here was his chance. At last he could pay to this man and Keziah a part of the debt he owed. Nat stopped in his stride. “Well!” he exclaimed. “I almost forgot, after all. Keziah sent a note to you. I've got it in my pocket. She gave it to me when she left me at Cohasset.” “Left you? Why! didn't she come back with you on the night train?” “No. That's funny, too, and I don't understand it yet. We was together all the afternoon. 'I was feelin' so good at seein' her that I took her under my wing and we cruised all over that town together. Got dinner at the tavern and she went with me to buy myself a new hat, and all that. At first she didn't seem to want to, but then, after I'd coaxed a while, she did. She was lookin' pretty sad and worn out, when I first met her, I thought; but she seemed to get over it and we had a fine time. It reminded me of the days when I used to get home from a voyage and we were together. Then, when 'twas time for the night train we went down to the depot. She gave me this note and told me to hand it to you to-day. “'Good-by, Nat,' she says. 'We've had a nice day, haven't we?' “'We have, for a fact,' I says. 'But what are you sayin' good-by for?' “'Because I'm not goin' to Trumet with you,' says she. 'I'm goin' to the city. I've got some business to see to there. Good-by.'