Part 9 (1/2)
”Oh, that's all right, that's all right, Miss--er----”
”Berry. I am Elizabeth Berry. My mother is in charge here at the Harbor.”
”Harbor? Oh, yes, over yonder. Berry? Berry? The only Berry I remember around here was Cap'n Isaac Berry. Cap'n Ike, we young fellows used to call him. I went to sea with him once, my first voyage second mate.”
”Did you? He was my father. But there, I _must_ go. Good-by, Cap'n Kendrick. I hope you will get well very fast now.”
”Thanks. Good-bye. Oh, by the way, Miss Berry, what made you think I might be Sears Kendrick? There are half a dozen Kendricks around Bayport.”
”Yes, but--excuse me--there is only one Cap'n Sears Kendrick. You are one of Bayport's celebrities, Cap'n.”
”Humph! Notorieties, you mean. So all hands have been talkin' about me, eh? Humph! Well, I guessed as much.”
”Why, of course. You are one of our s.h.i.+ning lights--sea lights, I mean.
You must expect to be talked about.”
”I do--in Bayport, and I'll be talked about more in a day or two, I guess.”
”Why?”
”Eh? Oh, nothin', nothin'. I was thinkin' out loud, didn't realize I spoke. Good-by.”
”Good-by.”
The gate closed behind her. Kendrick sat down once more upon the bench beneath the locust tree.
When Judah returned with the bucket of clams he found his guest and prospective boarder just where he had left him.
”Well, by Henry, Cap'n Sears!” he exclaimed. ”Still at the same old moorin's, eh? Been anch.o.r.ed right there ever since I sot sail?”
”Not exactly, Judah. Pretty nearly, though.”
”Sho! Kind of dull music for you, I'm afraid. Whoa, you lop-sided hay-barge! Stand still till I give you orders to move, will ye! That's what I warned you, Cap'n Sears; not much goin' on around here. You'll be pretty lonesome, I guess likely.”
”Oh, I guess I can stand it, Judah. I haven't been lonesome so far.”
”Ain't, eh? That's good. Well, I got my clams; now I'll steer this horse into port and come back and get to work on that chowder. Oh, say, Cap'n Sears; I see Sary and told her you was cal'latin' to stay here for dinner.”
”Did you? Much obliged. What did she say?”
”Say? She said a whole lot. Wanted to know how in time you got up here.
'You didn't let him _walk_ all that great long ways, Judah Cahoon?' she says. 'I ain't altogether a fool, be I?' says I.”
Mr. Cahoon paused to search his pockets for a match.
”What answer did she make to that?” asked the captain. Judah grinned.
”Wa--ll,” he drawled, ”she said, 'Perhaps not--altogether.' 'Twan't much, but it was enough of the kind, as the feller said about the tobacco in the coffee pot. Oh, say, that reminds me, Cap'n Sears; there was somebody else talkin' about you. I--whoa, you camel, you! Creepin', crawlin', jumpin'---- Well, go ahead, then! I'll tell you the rest in half a shake, Cap'n. Git dap!”
Horse, cart and driver jogged and jolted into the barn. After a brief interval Mr. Cahoon reappeared, carrying the clam bucket. They entered the kitchen together. Then the captain said:
”Judah, you said some one beside Sarah was talkin' about me. Who was it?”