Thankful's face was still buried in her handkerchief.
“I—I—” continued Captain Obed. “Now, now, don't do that. Don't DO it!”
Mrs. Barnes wiped her eyes.
“I won't,” she said, stoutly. “I won't. I know I'm silly and childish.”
“You ain't neither. You're the pluckiest and best woman ever was. You're the finest—er—er—Oh, consarn it, Thankful, don't cry any more. Can't you,” desperately, “can't you see I can't stand it to have you?”
“All right, Cap'n Bangs, I won't. Don't you bother about me or my worries. I guess likely you've got enough of your own; most people have.”
“I ain't. I ain't got enough. Do me good if I had more. Thankful, see here; what's the use of your fightin' all these things alone? I've watched you ever since you made port here in South Wellmouth and it's been nothin' but fight and worry all the time. What's the use of it? You're too good a woman to waste your life this way. Give it up.”
“Give it up?”
“Yes, give it up. Give up this wearin' yourself out keepin' boarders and runnin' this big house. Why don't you stop takin' care of other folks and take care of yourself for a spell?”
“But I can't. I can't take care of myself. All I have is invested in this place and if I give it up I lose everything.”