“I ain't jokin',” she declared. “I've been a poor relation in this village for a good while and my brother was a shoemaker and on the upper fringe of the town-folk class. My humor bump would have to stick up like Cannon Hill afore I could see any joke in that.”
“But you're not seriously advising me to treat a rich man differently from a poor one?”
“Not openly different—no. But if you want to steer a perfectly SAFE course, one that'll keep deep water under your keel the whole voyage, why, there's your chart.”
Mr. Ellery promptly tore the “chart” into small pieces.
“I'm going out,” he said. “I shall be back by supper time.”
Mrs. Coffin eyed him grimly.
“Goin' to run it blindfold, are you?” she asked.
“Yes, I am.”
Her grimness disappeared and she smiled.
“I'll have your supper ready for you,” she said. “Bring back a good appetite.”