“And I am really worth over a hundred thousand dollars?” said Guy, hardly able to realize his good fortune.
“Yes; and if you choose to stay with me I will employ you at a liberal salary.”
“Thank you, Mr. Saunders; but I would like a year’s vacation. I want to go home and gladden my father with the good news.”
“Certainly. That is only reasonable.”
The Osprey, on its return voyage, carried Guy and his two assistants as passengers.
He divided ten thousand dollars between Abner Titcomb, Luke Clark, and Captain Forbush, feeling that he was under special obligations to all three, and that he would still be left as rich as he could reasonably desire.
CHAPTER XXXVIII
BACK IN BAYPORT
In Bayport, things were moving on as usual. From week to week the Rev. Mr. Fenwick appeared in the pulpit of the village church, and officiated to the satisfaction of all but a small minority of the parish.
For there were a few malcontents, headed by Deacon Crane, who had not yet lost the hope of seeing the pulpit filled by his cousin, who, not being popular, had been unemployed more than half the time during the past year.
The deacon went about and dropped disparaging remarks about Mr. Fenwick, but they did not bear fruit. To his chagrin, he found that very few cared for a change.