“Oh, no! Not as bad as that. And poor Matilda doesn't talk much at home, I'm afraid.”
“Her husband sees to that; I don't blame him. By the way, the Captain had a queer bee in his bonnet this morning. He seems to be thinking of buying some of our property.”
I told her of Jedediah's interest in the Shore Lane and his hint concerning its possible purchase. She listened and then said thoughtfully:
“What have you decided to do about it, Roscoe?”
“I haven't decided at all. What do you think, Mother?”
“It seems to me that I shouldn't sell, at least until I knew his reason for wanting to buy. It would be different if we needed the money, but, of course, we don't.”
“Of course,” I said, hastily. “But why not sell? We don't use the land.”
“No. But the Denboro people need that Lane. They use it a great deal. If it were closed it would put many of them to a great inconvenience, particularly those who get their living alongshore. Every one in Denboro has been so kind to us. I feel that we owe them a debt we never can repay.”
“No one could help being kind to you, Mother. Oh! I have another piece of news. Did you know that our new neighbors, the Coltons, have arrived?”
“Yes. Dorinda told me. Have you met any of them?”