He insisted upon Kendrick's returning to the High Cliff House that night. “I want Mrs. Barnes to show you the room she's got vacant,” he said. “Ain't no harm lookin' at a brindle calf, as the feller said; you don't have to buy the critter unless you want to.”
So Mr. Kendrick inspected the rooms and expressed himself as delighted with them.
“They're all right in every respect, Captain,” he declared. “And the food is more than that. But the price—although it's surprisingly low considering the value offered—is too steep for me. I'm afraid, if I should locate here, for a trial trip, I couldn't afford to be comfortable and I shouldn't expect to.”
Captain Bangs remained to take supper with his friend. The meal over, they and the rest of the boarders were seated in the big living-room—once Captain Abner's “best parlor”—when there came from outside the rattle of wheels and the voice of Winnie S. shouting “Whoa!” to General Jackson.
Thankful, who had been in the kitchen superintending Imogene, who was learning rapidly, came hurrying to the front door. The group in the parlor heard her utter an exclamation, an exclamation of surprise and delight. There were other exclamations, also in a feminine voice, and the sounds of affectionate greetings. Then Mrs. Barnes, her face beaming, ushered into the living-room a young woman. And this young woman was her cousin, Emily Howes.
Captain Obed rose to greet her.
“Well, I swan to man, Miss Howes!” he cried. “This IS a surprise! I didn't know you was due for a v'yage in this latitude.”
Thankful laughed. “Neither did I,” she declared. “It's as big a surprise to me as it is to you, Cap'n. She didn't write me a word.”
Emily laughed.
“Of course I didn't, Auntie,” she said. “I wanted to surprise you. But you're glad to see me, aren't you?”