The blood came back to Sarah's heart. She hurried to tell him the rest. "I've been wanting to tell you, Peter; you mustn't think me worse than I am. He used to come down to my counter and talk to me; and after a few days of that he asked me to go out with him. I was a little proud at first--to be noticed by the manager above the other girls. Girls like to be made much of, Peter; if it's only by a lost dog that licks their hand, they like it. I went to that place with him, after he'd asked me a dozen times, and the third time there with him I drank a glass of champagne. I wanted to know for myself what it tasted like. But I never took it with him again--nor went out with him again, because coming home in the taxi that night he tried to get fresh. A lot of men, Peter, think that if a girl isn't cold and stiff in her ways she must be bad. And I kicked the door of the taxi open and left him and came home alone." "I'm glad you told me that. And Sarah?" "Yes, Peter?" "Good night, Sarah." "You're not mad with me any more, Peter?" "I could never stay mad with you." "Then you must tell me you're not, Peter. A girl wants to be told these things." Her eyes were smiling up like stars through the dark of the doorway at him. He drew back her head to him and kissed her. She lay very still against him. He patted her head. "You'll marry me, won't you, Sarah, some day?" "I'll ask mother. And whenever she says--will that do, Peter?" Late every winter Mrs. Pentle took a month's trip South. She had returned from that trip South and was making the rounds of the store. She came to the shipping-room, looked round, asked Flaxley a few questions about things; and then, as she was about to go: "I don't see Captain Crudden. He is not sick?" "Peter's gone, ma'am," said Flaxley. "Mr. Henston and Peter had words, ma'am, and Peter put on his coat and walked out." "What!" "Yes'm. But before he put on his coat he threw Mr. Henston into the passageway. Then he went and got married," he added. "Peter married!" "Yes, ma'am. He surprised us, too--that is, gettin' married so quick." "Whom did he marry?" "Miss Hern, from the notions counter." "Hern? Notions? Oh--I remember her now." Flaxley saw her cross the passageway to the rest-room and sit down on a couch. After a time she went up-stairs. It was after two o'clock--Flaxley remembered the time very well--when Mrs. Pentle left the rest-room; so she must have ordered her car and gone to Gloucester right away, for she was in Duncan's store, according to the minutes of Fred Lichens, the old bookkeeper, before four o'clock. "Is Captain Crudden here?" was her first question. "He is. He's down the wharf--ready to sail in your vessel," said Mr. Duncan. "Shall I call him up?" "Please do." Mr. Duncan hailed from the steps of the store, and Peter came; but no smiling shipper's helper who looked like a boy was this Peter.