“Was there anything from—”
Mr. Tidditt glanced at Bos'n and shook his head.
“Not a word,” he said. “Funny, ain't it? It don't seem a bit like him. And he can't be to Washin'ton, because all them letters came back. I—I swan to man, I'm beginnin' to get worried.”
“Worried? I'm pretty nigh crazy! What does Phoebe Dawes say?”
“She don't say much. It's pretty tough, when everything else is workin' out so fine, thanks to her, to have this happen. No, she don't say much, but she acts pretty solemn.”
“Say, Mr. Tidditt?”
“Yes, what is it?”
“You don't s'pose anything that happened betwixt her and Cap'n Whittaker that afternoon is responsible for—for his stayin' away so, do you? You know what he told me to tell her—about her not comin' here?”
Asaph fidgeted with the wet cap.
“Aw, that ain't nothin',” he stammered. “That is, I hope it ain't. I did say somethin' to him that—but Phoebe understands. She's a smart woman.”