There was another matter troubling Sheila’s mind after Orion had come to the harvest-home festival.  Mason Chapin likewise appeared at the church.  But Tunis did not come.  He knew, of course, of the festival, and he had known when he sailed last for Boston that the Balls and Ida May intended to go.  It did seem as if Tunis might have come, if for only a little while, before going home.

These thoughts made Sheila rather inattentive to other proposals, and she found herself obliged to go down to supper with Orion, since he had outsat and outtalked all the other young men who had hovered about her.  She was nice to Orion; the girl could scarcely be otherwise, even to those she disliked, unless some very important matter arose to disturb her, but she did not enjoy the remainder of the evening, and she was glad when Cap’n Ira and Prudence were ready to go home.  It was full time, the girl thought.

Even then Orion Latham assumed altogether too much authority.  Sheila had been about to send little John-Ed around for Queenie and the carryall, but Orion put the boy aside with a self-assured grin.

“Nobody ain’t going to put you in the carriage, Ida May, but me,” he declared.  “I’ll get the old mare.”

He seized his cap and went out.  In a few minutes they had said good-bye, and the old couple and the girl went out on the church steps.  Sheila saw the carryall standing before the door.  A figure stood at the old mare’s head which she presumed to be Orion’s.

“The chariot is ready, I cal’late,” said Cap’n Ira.  “Come on, Prudence.”

Sheila helped the old woman into the rear seat and then aided Cap’n Ira as well.  She got in quickly in front, but as she was about to gather up the reins the man holding Queenie’s head came around swiftly and stepped in beside her to the driver’s place.

“I swan!  That you, Tunis?” exclaimed Cap’n Ira.

“Looks like it,” the captain of the Seamew said gravely.  “All clear aft?”

“You can pay off, Tunis,” returned the old man.  “Tuck that robe around your knees, Prudence.  This night air is as chill as a breath off the ice barrens.”

Orion loafed into the lamplight by the steps before Queenie got into action.  His scowl was unseen, but his voice was audible—­as it was meant to be—­to Sheila’s ears.

“There he is—­hoggin’ everything, same as usual.  How did I know he was hanging around outside here, waiting to drive her home?  Just as though he owned her!  Huh!  He may be skipper aboard that dratted schooner, but that gives him no right to boss me ashore.  I won’t stand it.”

“Sit down to it, then, ’Rion,” snickered one of the other young fellows.  “I cal’late Tunis has got the inside course on all of us.”

The girl said nothing to the captain of the Seamew at first.  It was Prudence who asked him why he had not been in the church.

“I could not get over here until just now,” Tunis replied quietly.