"Say, Hudson, did I tell ye I was a-lookin' fer a woman? No, sir; I only said as how they was welcome to come to the Island. This how-dy-do o' your'n I call a-rubbin' it in pretty hard. If it's a joke with you, it hain't with me."
"Now, old friend, don't get peeved. I'll tell you just how it came about. After you left my house, I went out to pay some professional calls. Ichabod, your name's in everybody's mouth. They all asked questions about you, knowing how close friends we are. What could I do but just up and tell how you had seen the light and had hit the trail for happiness; how all women were to be welcome at the Island from now on, and how the latch-string would be hanging always on the outside of the shack door? I had no sooner arrived home than one of these good ladies called me up and asked me if I would mind escorting a few of them to the Island to congratulate you on your quitting playing Rip Van Winkle as far as women were concerned. I just told the pretty creatures I'd be only too glad to go with them.... Shake hands, Ichabod. Let your family physician be the first to welcome you back."
Realizing that the whole trouble had been caused by his talking too much and that no one was to blame save himself, the old man smiled somewhat wryly as he grasped his friend's extended hand.
"Say, Doc," he declared, "I always did like a joke where it didn't hurt none. So, I ain't a-goin' to make ye out untruthful to that passal o' women."
With that, the fisherman slipped his arm within the Doctor's, and walked forward spiritedly toward his doom—as he mentally termed this social ordeal. It was indeed his coming-out party, and never a debutante so secretly tremulous and shy as Captain Icky.
CHAPTER XVII
Strangers at Ichabod's Island
The friendly squeeze that Doctor Hudson was giving Ichabod's arm as they advanced toward the group of women heartened the old man mightily. A few days since, he would have felt that he was being led as a martyr to be burned at the stake. But now, in the twinkling of an eye, everything was changed. It is true that he felt a keen embarrassment over this introduction to feminine society after his isolation from it for twenty years. Yet his natural courage dominated this embarrassment, so that he faced the trial bravely enough.
The Doctor explained to him that a formal introduction to the ladies would be necessary.