“How do I know? Because my mind has certain qualities that I see yours will never possess, and besides I think a little. Now consider this advertisement with the aid of a very little imagination and common sense. The owner is a sea captain. That is a volume in itself to me. Sailors are very fond of the picturesque, so I should expect Captain Shannon’s house to be delightfully situated, quaint and comfortable. I can’t imagine anyone from whom I’d rather buy property than from such a man as Captain Shannon must be,” concluded Miss Katherine.
“Why don’t he live in it himself, then, if it’s such a fine place?” inquired Joseph with an attempt at sarcasm which was quite beyond him.
“Can he live in a house on the land and sail on the sea at the same time?” demanded his disgusted sister.
“Well, if I had such a place as you say it is I wouldn’t be risking my neck on the sea. I’d stay right there and raise vegetables,” returned Joseph.
Joseph was several years older than his sister and as he had just retired from business with the intention of spending the remainder of his days in peace and calm, he thought it wise not to jeopardize this residue of his life by running counter to any fixed idea of his sister. But in yielding to Miss Katherine’s strong desire to spend the spring and summer near the sea, Joseph was not solely actuated by fear of her displeasure. He thought that a few months of undisturbed gardening would be the purest possible happiness, so readily consented to Miss Katherine’s going to view the place for rent. She went, she saw and she was captivated. Such a view! Such a garden! Nothing could be more delightful.
Ocean View was not far distant from their home, so the day after his sister’s return Joseph set out to see the house for himself. He found Miss Katherine’s praise very just. It was indeed a most pleasant place, and though the garden sadly needed care, that fact, in Joseph’s eyes, did not detract from the desirability of the place. Beneath a very impassive exterior he concealed a tenderness and real passion for flowers and a garden. He had passed his days in his hardware shop among unlovely objects, and had never gratified this one passion, which was still strong. But now Joseph thought of the long spring and summer days spent in the garden, and went in haste to interview the agent.
“Captain Shannon’s place, eh?” said Mr. Skinner. “It used to be a pretty place when the Captain lived there, and I have had good tenants who have kept it up pretty well, but we didn’t rent it last year so it’s grown up rather wild. Would you happen to be fond of flowers, now?”
Upon Joseph’s replying that he was, Mr. Skinner continued:
“Captain Shannon lived there only two years when he took to sea again. I don’t know whether he’s dead or alive, for that’s seven years ago, and I’ve never seen or heard from him since. I send the rent to his bank in New York, but it’s my opinion that he’s gone where he don’t need money, for if he was alive why wouldn’t he come back and spend the rest of his days here? He ain’t a young man by any means, about sixty, I think. But I was going to tell you why I asked if you were fond of flowers. The Captain was crazy about them and kept a record of all his choice plants. That book’s in the library now. Well, when he told me he was going to sea again and asked to rent the place, he said to get a tenant that would look after the plants. It just seemed to me he wanted to stay, but the sea pulled too strong for him and he had to go. But now if you like pottering round in a garden, that’s just the place for you.”
Joseph felt it was but did not express himself too strongly until he had concluded a very good bargain.