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With Calvin Homer she was a little more explicit and confidential.
But the old
man told me I needntstay if I didnt want to. Maybe that aintthe main question,
Wallie, he said. All he had to do was to watch the way youfellows acted, and
get near enough to you.
The Government signals, day after day, were set for
high winds andcold.
What there might be to wait for was beyond
hisunderstanding. Apparently shehad not been in bed at all.
Then came the
long-expected break in the stretch of good weather. But his self-congratulation
was short lived.
The skipper was still peering through thetelescope. Hehad not
meant to speak, but he found himself doing so. But,as you yourself have said a
half-dozen times, they are like kids insome ways. With Calvin Homer she was a
little more explicit and confidential. And when he did they were amazed to see
him inordinary clothes instead of his rough-weather rig.
Oaks immediately
became the center of interest. Solemn as an aowl in a meetin-house steeple,
aint he? The whole business was kind of darn foolish for a man asold as I
am.
And I didnt need to hear; your face wasenough.
Come in here, into my room,
father, she said gently.
It helped himto recover from his surprise and chagrin;
also it aroused hisresentment. Yes, as hehad told Badger, allowances must be
made, irritating though themaking of them might be. His right hand steadied the
glass, but his left wasoutstretched and shaking.
Nothin, except your own
chance, and you can take that, sameas Id take mine. They stayed, but only
because he was at the door and they could notpass without a fight. Twould be a
hard pull for you, after the one you had this mornin. Yes, tell those that know
about the whisky.
He took time enough to count the oats, seemed so to me.
Well
all have to make allowancestill he gets his bearings. The signals, flying at
the top of the pole, spelled Easterly windsincreasing to gale velocity. At
first Phinney was inclined to be angry andresentful. CHAPTER IXMiss Bartlett
left Setuckit for Fairborough and her work there, thefollowing afternoon.
Youhad it under your coat when I met you coming from the barn thisafternoon. He
lay there wide awake, hisfeet touching the jug, until eleven.
After that, if
you still want to, you may call him and welcome. An unwilling andmuch surprised
center, but an overwhelmingly popular one.
Bartlett left the glass and began
pacing up and down the floor.
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