Before his helper could comment on this declaration, it was repeated. The lightkeeper shook both his big fists in the air.
“Darn 'em! Darn all the women!” shouted Seth Atkins.
“Amen,” said John Brown, devoutly.
Seth's fists dropped into his lap. “What?” he cried; “what did you say?”
“I said Amen.”
“But—but . . . why . . . you didn't mean it!”
“Didn't I?” bitterly. “Humph!”
Seth breathed heavily, started to speak once more, closed his lips on the words, rose, walked away a few paces, returned, and sat down.
“John Brown,” he said, solemnly, “if you're jokin', the powers forgive you, for I won't. If you ain't, I—I . . . See here, do you remember what you asked me that night when you struck me for the assistant keeper's job? You asked me if I was married?”
Brown assented wonderingly. “Why, yes,” he said, “I believe I did.”