“I was goin’ to say that wife an’ me had best know more about this right away, Mr. Touchtone,” said Obed, slowly. “It’s pretty queer. If we’re to do you any good, or, rather, not hurt your plans, you might post us a little further.”
“Exactly,” Philip replied. “You shall know whatever I can tell you as quickly as I can tell it.”
So, for two hours, while Gerald was in dreamland, the “posting” continued. Philip told his story, but not that part of his family history that was hard to narrate to new friends. He answered frankly the many questions that their sympathy prompted. Once clear in their minds, neither Obed nor Mrs. Probasco doubted the story’s truth.
“You needn’t say more, to-night at least, Mr. Touchtone,” said Obed, at last; “we’ve heard enough—haint we, Loreta? Your story an’ mine run about as close as stories could—more’s the pity. The weather’s likely to be rough to-morrow, an’ my rheumatics may keep me from getting across till next day. I shall be terrible sorry if I’m not better. I wish I wasn’t alone. I’m pretty sure you’re fairly safe from the chance of Jennison’s coming to the farm this week; but I aint fully sure.”
“Well, if he does we can hide you both snug as a bug in a rug,” declared Mrs. Loreta, stoutly.
“Precisely,” continued Obed. “Anyway, inside of forty-eight hours you’ll be in Knoxport an’ getting word to your friends—an’ from ’em, I hope. Make your mind easy.”
“Yes, we’ll help you all we can to straighten every thing out right,” said his wife. “Nothing will happen to you here but we’ll know about it an’ be ready to go through it with you and that dear boy there that’s left in your charge. The good Lord bless him and you!”
The conversation ended. Philip went to bed, but not to sleep for a good hour or so. He speculated and planned. The Probascos talked together in their room assiduously enough.
The next day the sky was, to say the least, threatening, and the sea terrifically rough for small craft. Probasco’s rheumatism was worse—one shoulder quite crippled. Philip was not used to navigation of the kind called for. Another day’s delay seemed unwise and unendurable, though he gave up every thing at last. But toward evening it was decided that the next morning, if the weather was even a trifle improved, he and Gerald should leave, with Obed’s help, or without, there being one or two obliging fishermen in Chantico who would bring back the cat-boat.