The school committee met on the following Wednesday evening. On Thursday morning a startling rumor spread throughout Bayport. Phoebe Dawes had been called, by a vote of two to one, to teach the downstairs school. Asaph, aghast, rushed out of Simmons's store and up to the hill to the Cy Whittaker place. He found Captain Cy in the front yard. Mr. Myrick, school committeeman and house painter, was with him.
“Hello, Ase!” hailed the captain. “What's the matter? Hasn't the tide come in this mornin'?”
Asaph, somewhat embarrassed by the presence of Mr. Myrick, hesitated over his news. Lemuel came to his rescue.
“Ase has just heard that we called Phoebe,” he said. “What of it? I voted for her, and I ain't ashamed of it.”
“But—but Mr. Atkins, he—”
“Well, Heman ain't on the committee, is he? I vote the way I think right, and no one in this town can change me. Anyway,” he added, “I'm going to resign next spring. Yes, Cap'n Whittaker, I think three coats of white 'll do on the sides here.”
“Lem's goin' to do my paintin' jobs,” explained Captain Cy. “His price was a little higher than some of the other fellers, but I like his work.”
Mr. Tidditt pondered deeply until dinner time. Then he cornered the captain behind the Bangs barn and spoke with conviction.
“Whit,” he said, “you're the one responsible for the committee's hirin' Phoebe Dawes. You offered Lem the paintin' job if he'd vote for her. What did you do it for? You don't know her, do you?”
“Never set eyes on her in my life.”