“Witness somethin'?” he repeated. Then, with a glance at John, who was as puzzled as he, “Humph! I witnessed somethin' this mornin' and now I'm to witness somethin' else. I'll begin to be an expert pretty soon, won't I? Humph! What—well, heave ahead, Imogene. I'll come.”
Imogene conducted them to the kitchen door where Mr. Parker still stood, looking remarkably foolish. Imogene's manner, however, was very business-like.
“Now then,” she said, addressing the two “witnesses,” “you see this piece of paper. Perhaps you'd better read it first.”
She handed the paper to Captain Obed, who looked at it and passed it over to John. It was the statement, signed by Kenelm, in which he agreed to marry Imogene whenever she asked him to do so.
“You see what 'tis, don't you?” asked Imogene. “Yes. Well, now you watch and see what I do with it.”
She tore the agreement into small pieces. Stepping into the kitchen she put the pieces in the stove.
“There!” she exclaimed, returning to the door. “That ends that. He and I,” pointing to Kenelm, “ain't engaged any longer, and he don't have to work here any longer. Is it all plain to both of you?”
It was not altogether plain even yet. The expression on the faces of the witnesses proved that.
“Now, Kenelm,” said Imogene cheerfully, “you can leave if you want to. And,” with a mischievous chuckle, “when you get there you can give your sister my love, the inmate's love, you know. Lordy! Won't she enjoy gettin' it!”
When Kenelm had gone, which he did immediately and without a word, Imogene vouchsafed an explanation.