But I did not take the direction that wink had indicated. I had an invitation, not from Vesty, but from the two most ancient of the Basins to tea, and I stopped in, a solitary and thoughtful bean-pole, at Captain Pharo's on the way. The music-box was playing. I was glad to hear that; a tune in undertone, like waves slowly, softly breaking. "She used ter play fifteen different tunes when we first had her," said Captain Pharo pensively; "but she got to squeakin', an' so we had Leezur up to ile 'er, an' ever sence she 's played one tune fifteen times! Poo! poo! hohum! Wal, wal-- [Illustration: Music fragment: 'My days are as the grass--'] Shouldn't care so much, though, ef 'twas only 'The Wracker's Darter.' "I've threatened a good many times to overhaul her myself, but I ain't no knowledge o' instermental music, and I s'pose I might spend a week on 'er, and not combine 'er insides up to playin' no 'Wracker's Darter,' arter all. Hohum! [Illustration: Music fragment: 'Or as the morning flow'r.] At each successive pause the organs of the music-box wheezed, struggled, almost faintly let go of life, then began again the undertone, of waves softly breaking. "I like it," I said. "I like it wonderfully." Captain Pharo gave me a keen look and went to the door and winked. I was no longer supine under such invitations. I rose and followed him. "Look a' here, major," said he, when we were alone, coughed. "My foot 's 'most well." "I am glad of it, captain." "Look a' here, major," said he, desperately, "what makes you so took up with that 'ere monotonous tune in thar? I'm afeered I may 'a' misled ye, times past, with regards to female grass." He coughed again and lit his pipe. I waited. "'Specially," he groaned, "some things I may h've said with regards to red and white clover." Still I waited. "Look a' here, major, when anybody sets down 'n' admires to sech a monotonous tune as that in thar, thar's somethin' the matter with 'em." Still I would not speak. Tears almost were in his eyes. "Now I may h've said some things on partickaler pesterin' 'casions in times past, but in general my verdick--hohum!--is fav'rable to female grass; 'specially--hohum! hohum!--wal, wal, ye knows my meanin', major--'specially with regards to red and white clover: hohum! how 's Vesty?" The captain gave a sigh that would have exculpated him from the gravest of crimes, and looked steadfastly toward the west. "I haven't seen her to-day." "Ye'll think it over, won't ye, major?" said he, still with that far withdrawn vision. "Well, yes; I'll think it over." I had proceeded but a little way when he called me back.