Meanwhile the boy had followed the little woman into the house through a small front hall, from which a narrow flight of stairs shot aloft with almost unbelievable steepness, and into a large room. Albert had a swift impression of big windows full of plants, of pictures of ships and schooners on the walls, of a table set for four.
“Take your things right off,” cried his grandmother. “Here, I'll take 'em. There! now turn 'round and let me look at you. Don't move till I get a good look.”
He stood perfectly still while she inspected him from head to foot.
“You've got her mouth,” she said slowly. “Yes, you've got her mouth. Her hair and eyes were brown and yours are black, but—but I THINK you look like her. Oh, I did so want you to! May I kiss you, Albert? I'm your grandmother, you know.”
With embarrassed shyness he leaned forward while she put her arms about his neck and kissed him on the cheek. As he straightened again he became aware that the big man had entered the room and was regarding him intently beneath a pair of shaggy gray eyebrows. Mrs. Snow turned.
“Oh, Zelotes,” she cried, “he's got Janie's mouth, don't you think so? And he DOES look like her, doesn't he?”
Her husband shook his head. “Maybe so, Mother,” he said, with a half smile. “I ain't a great hand for locatin' who folks look like. How are you, boy? Glad to see you. I'm your grandfather, you know.”
They shook hands, while each inspected and made a mental estimate of the other. Albert saw a square, bearded jaw, a firm mouth, gray eyes with many wrinkles at the corners, and a shock of thick gray hair. The eyes had a way of looking straight at you, through you, as if reading your thoughts, divining your motives and making a general appraisal of you and them.
Captain Zelotes Snow, for his part, saw a tall young fellow, slim and straight, with black curly hair, large black eyes and regular features. A good-looking boy, a handsome boy—almost too handsome, perhaps, or with just a touch of the effeminate in the good looks. The captain's glance took in the well-fitting suit of clothes, the expensive tie, the gold watch chain.
“Humph!” grunted Captain Zelotes. “Well, your grandma and I are glad to have you with us. Let me see, Albert—that's your right name, ain't it—Albert?”