Part 36 (1/2)
Again he paused, as if expecting a reply. And again the captain humored him.
”Much obliged,” he said.
The Phillips hand waved the thanks away. There was another perceptible wait. Then said Egbert, ”Captain Kendrick, as one man of the world to another, what do you think of the--ah--inst.i.tution next door?”
Sears looked at him. ”What do I think of it?” he repeated.
”Yes, exactly. It was, as you know, the darling of my dear wife's heart.
When she loaned her--shall we say her ancestral home, and--ah--money to the purpose she firmly believed the Fair Harbor for Mariners' Women to be an inspiration for good. She believed its founding to be the beginning of a great work. Is it doing that work, do you think? In your opinion, sir, is it a success?”
Captain Sears slowly stroked his close-cropped beard. What was the man driving at?
”Why--I don't know as I know exactly what you mean by success,” he hesitated. ”It's takin' care of its--er--boarders and it's makin' a home for 'em. That is what your wife wanted it to do, didn't she?”
”Oh, yes, yes, quite so. But that is not precisely what I mean. Put it this way, sir: In your opinion, as a man of affairs----”
”Here, here, just a minute. I'm not a man of affairs. I'm a broken-down sea cap'n on sh.o.r.e, that's all.”
Again the upraised hand. ”_I_ know what you are, Captain Kendrick,”
said Egbert. ”That, if you will permit me to say so, is why I am asking your opinion. The success of a--ah--proposition depends, as I see it, upon the amount of success achieved in proportion to the amount of energy, capital--ah--whatnot invested. Now, considering the sum needed to support the Fair Harbor--paid, as doubtless you know, Captain Kendrick, from the interest of an amount loaned and set aside by my dear wife some years ago--considering that sum, I say, added to the amount sunk, or invested, in the house, land, furnis.h.i.+ngs, et cetera, is it your opinion that the inst.i.tution's success is a sufficient return? Or, might not the same sums, put into other--ah--charities, reap larger rewards? Rewards in the shape of good to our fellow men and women, Captain Kendrick? What do you think?”
Sears crossed his knees.
”I don't know,” he said.
”Of course, of course. One does not know. But it is a question to be considered, is it not?”
”Why--why, yes, maybe. Do I understand that you are thinkin' of givin'
up the Fair Harbor? Doin' away with it?”
”Oh, no, no, no!” Mr. Phillips pushed the surmise deeper into the background with each negative. ”I am not considering anything of that sort, Captain Kendrick.”
”Well--humph! My mistake again. I thought you just said you were considerin' it.”
”Only as a question, Captain, only as a question. While my wife lived, of course, the Fair Harbor--_her_ Fair Harbor--was a thing fixed, immovable. Now that she has been taken from me, it devolves upon me, the care of her trusts, her benefactions.”
”Yes. So you said, Mr. Phillips.”
”I believe I did say so. Yes. And therefore, as I see it, a part of that trust is to make sure that every penny of her--ah--charity is doing the greatest good to the greatest number.”
”And you think the Fair Harbor isn't gettin' its money's worth?”
”Oh, no, no, no. I don't say that. I don't say that at all. I am sure it must be. I am merely considering, that is all, merely considering....
Well, Captain Kendrick, I must go. We shall see each other often, I trust. I have-ah--a suite at the Central House and if you will do me the honor of calling I shall greatly appreciate it. Pray drop in at any time, sir. Don't, I beg of you, stand upon ceremony.”
Sears promised that he would not. He was finding it hard to keep from smiling. A ”suite” at the Central House, Bayport's one hostelry, tickled him. He knew the rooms at that hit or miss tavern.
”Good-by, Captain Kendrick,” said Mr. Phillips. ”Upon one thing I feel sure you may congratulate yourself, that is that your troubles and petty annoyances as--ah--manager of the Fair Harbor are practically over.”
”Oh,” observed the captain.