Sheila wondered if he really had been detained on the schooner.  Perhaps he had refrained from coming to the festival for fear the good people of Big Wreck Cove would notice his attentions to her.  He had never been publicly in her company since he had brought her down from Boston.  Orion Latham’s outburst there at the church door was the first cue people might have gained of anything more than a passing acquaintanceship between the captain of the Seamew and the girl who had come to live with the Balls.

These thoughts bore down the girl’s spirits tremendously.  The simple pleasure of the evening was quite erased from her memory.  She remained speechless while old Queenie climbed the hill to the Head.

The desultory conversation between Cap’n Ira, Prudence, and the young shipmaster scarcely attracted the girl’s attention.  If Tunis looked at her curiously now and then, she did not see his glances.  And she merely nodded her understanding of his statement when Tunis said, speaking directly to her: 

“The Seamew’s going to lie here over Sunday this time, Ida May.”

“That’ll be nice for you, Tunis,” Aunt Prue put in.  “You can go to church.  You don’t often have that privilege.  Seafarin’ is an awful godless life.”

Queenie sprang ahead gallantly at the sound of a hearty sneeze from Cap’n Ira, just then, and they were soon at home.  Tunis jumped out and aided the old woman and then the captain to alight.  Sheila got out on the other side of the carriage.  She would have preferred to run on into the house, but she could not really do that.  Queenie must be unharnessed and put in her stable and given a measure of oats to munch.  Of course, Tunis would offer to do this, but she could not leave him to attend to it without a word.

“I’ll help you with Queenie, Ida May,” said the captain of the Seamew.

That settled it.  She had to remain outside while Cap’n Ira and Prudence went into the house.  Tunis led the old mare toward the barn.  A lantern, burning very dimly, was in a box just outside the big door, and Sheila got this and held it while Tunis busied himself with the buckles.

“I didn’t mean to interfere,” the man said, suddenly breaking the silence between them.  “But as I was coming this way, of course, I expected to ride along with you.  So—­”

“What do you mean, Captain Latham?” the girl asked wonderingly.

“Orion said you sent him out to get Queenie.”

“Why, I—­”

“Of course, you didn’t know I was there.  I had just reached the church.  But ’Rion is so fresh—­”

“He took it upon himself to go,” said the girl calmly.  “I did not send him.  I guess you know how your cousin is.”

“He is too fresh.  I’d like to punch him,” growled Tunis, to the girl’s secret delight.  It sounded boyish, but real.  “I don’t know that I can stand him aboard the Seamew much longer.  He attends to everybody’s business but his own.”