"Oh, sugar! That’s a case, is it, of when you’re _out_, you’re _in_?" chuckled the lightkeeper. "I give it as my opinion that the only thing Lorny lacks is a good husband." Miss Ida flushed softly. "I hope she will see the advisability of choosing wisely in that matter," the aunt said, speaking intimately to these two old friends, at the expression of whose interest in her family affairs she was far too sensible to take offence. "Yes," she pursued. "You know what hopes her father and I have for her. An eminently fitting alliance. And Ralph is a manly fellow. It does seem as though those two were quite made for each other." "Humph! Yes. ’Twould seem so," muttered Tobias. "But it does appear sometimes as though the very things that _ought_ to be don’t somehow come around to happen." "You are a philosopher, Tobias." "Dunno as that’s a compliment, Miss Ida," rejoined the lightkeeper, his eyes twinkling. "I got all my wits about me yet, and most of them philosophers you hear tell about ain’t. They get on some hobby and ride it to death. And a man ain’t really broad-minded unless he can see both sides to a question. "Now, takin’ the chances for and against your Lorna and Ralph Endicott marryin’. What would you say, Miss Ida, was the one best bet?" He looked up at her shrewdly, holding his pipe with that familiar gesture of his. Miss Ida’s gravity grew more profound. "I believe you and Heppy must know that of late my niece and Ralph have seemed to fret one another?" she queried. "They give themselves away some when they stopped over here that time they got stalled in Ralph’s car," admitted Tobias. "Warn’t it jest a leetle spat?" "I am afraid not. They have not seemed the same since. And I am afraid it is Lorna’s fault," sighed Miss Ida. "She is so hot-tempered. I have warned her. The families have never considered any other possible outcome but an alliance between Lorna and Ralph. I have told her so." "I cal’late you have," murmured Tobias softly, pulling on his pipe again. "When she returns from New York—as she will in a day or two—I shall put the matter to her very strongly. If you and Heppy have noticed their drifting asunder, other people must have noticed it too. The Nicholets would be utterly disgraced if it were said that Ralph Endicott—er—dropped Lorna. And if he should, I fear it will be my niece’s own fault." When she was gone Tobias snorted suddenly. "Oh, sugar!" he said. "If I scorch ’em a mite graced, I want to know, when Miss Ida’s love affair with Professor Endicott busted up? Seems to me that leetle gal, Lorny, is going to be put upon by her folks. _That_ won’t do." "Now, do try to mind your own business, Tobias," advised his sister, comfortably rocking. "I know it will be hard for you to do so. But you’ll burn your fingers, like enough, if you don’t." The lightkeeper spread out his gnarled, work-blunted fingers to observe them reflectively.