"Yes. He's going away soon, anyway, I understand. And I'm glad of it," the girl declared.
"Oh, sugar! I suppose that's so," reflected Tobias, filling his pipe. "Wal, a feller can't always appear chirpy an' lively when things is going wrong with him."
She flashed him a look of suspicion. "What do you mean by that, Tobias Bassett?"
"Er—wal, like enough he don't feel any too happy. I give it as my opinion that none of the Endicotts do, right now. Wal!"
He sighed reflectively, and slowly pulled on his pipe to get it well alight. Lorna continued to stare at him, a little puzzled frown marring her brow.
"You are the most mysterious person," she said. "Tell me straight out what you mean."
"Oh, sugar! I don't guess I need to tell you what Ralph's trouble is."
She flushed more deeply then, and her eyes began to spark. "If you are hinting that I have anything to do with making Ralph Endicott unhappy——"
"Not a-tall! Not a-tall!" the lightkeeper hastened to say. "But I reckoned you'd know full as much about the Endicott's private affairs as I do."
"Mr. Bassett! what is it?"