So I came to the hole scooped in the ground just without the shadow of my pine, and I cleared it out, the accumulation of the winter, down to the lining of great stones. And I brought out the plain wooden benches, and the great pine planks laid on wooden horses, to serve as tables, and I set them in their places, and I rubbed the tops of the tables till they were all shining white. And a big wagon came with a load of seaweed—rockweed—all fresh and wet and dripping, its little brown bladders soft and swollen, and the load of wet weed was dumped in a slippery pile. There were chickens also to come, and lobsters, and fish, whatever kinds the fishermen brought in, but no bluefish caught in the bay these many years; and many loaves of brown bread. But all those things would come later, and I had no concern with them save to bake them—but not the brown bread. So I looked about, and seeing all things done that were to do at that time, I went in to breakfast.
I was restless, and dragged Eve out, and we went prowling along the shore, although it yet lacked an hour of the time set for the assembling of our company; but there was Old Goodwin leaning against a tree above the clam beds, gazing out over the water.
I followed his gaze, and I saw his ocean steamer lying there, at anchor. She had come in since sunrise, for the water then had been empty of steam yachts. And men were swarming over her rail and were getting settled upon stagings—planks—that hung there.
Old Goodwin turned to us. "Good-morning," he said, smiling his quiet smile of peace.
"Good-morning," I returned. "It seems like afternoon to me. It is a long time since sunrise. Your boat wasn't there then. What are they doing to her? Painting a gold band around her?"
He smiled once more. "No gold," he said. "She needed paint. I thought that gray would be a good color. It wears well, and doesn't show bruises."
"He has given her to the navy," Eve whispered. Her eyes were shining.
"I thought I might as well," said Old Goodwin as if apologizing. "I have given up New York—for a time anyway—and shall not need her. That is the matter I spoke of. I shall want your advice, Adam."
"Now?" I asked. "It is rather sudden."