“You don’t know how glad I am to hear you say that, Aaron,” she cried, with fervor.  “I was afraid you hadn’t repented.”

“I ought to ‘a’ hit him with a club and saved my toe, that’s what I mean,” he snorted, with grim viciousness.

She sighed, and he resumed his dismal survey of the liniment-soaked rags.

“Once when I was—­” he resumed, in a low growl, after a time.

“Oh, I’m so glad you’re goin’ to tell a story, Cap’n,” she chirped, welcoming his first return of good-nature since his mishap.

“There ain’t no story to it,” he snapped.  “I only want to say that there’s a place down in Africa where I put in with the Jefferson P. Benn one time, where they daub honey on folks that they want to git red of, and anchor ’em on an ant-bed.  That’s jest what’s happenin’ to me here in Smyrna, and my thutty thousand dollars that I’ve worked hard for and earnt and saved is the honey.  You’ve lived among them here all your life, Louada Murilla, and I s’pose you’ve got more or less wonted to ’em.  But if I hadn’t squirmed and thrashed round a little durin’ the time I’ve lived here, after marryin’ you and settlin’ down among ’em, they’d have et me, honey, money, hide, and hair.  As it is, they’ve got their little lunch off’m me.  I haven’t thrashed round enough till—­till yistiddy.”

He wriggled the toe in the centre of the rose, and grunted.

“I was in hopes we wouldn’t have any more trouble in the family, only what we’ve had with brother Gideon since we’ve been married,” she said mildly.  “Of course, Marengo Todd is only a second cousin of mine, but still, he’s in the family, you know, and families hang together, ’cause blood—­”

“Blood is what they want, blast ’em!” he bawled, angrily.  “I’ve used Marengo Orango, there, or whatever you call him, all right, ain’t I?  I’ve let him do me!  He knowed I was used to sea ways, and wa’n’t used to land ways, and that he could do me.  I lent him money, first off, because I liked you.  And I’ve lent him money sence because I like a liar—­and he’s a good one!  I’ve used all your relatives the best I’ve knowed how, and—­and they’ve turned round and used me!  But I’ve put a dot, full-stop, period to it—­and I done it with that toe,” he added, scowling at the pathetic heart of the red rose.

“I wish it hadn’t been one of the family,” she sighed.

“It couldn’t well help bein’ one,” snarled the Cap’n.  “They’re about all named Todd or Ward round here but one, and his name is Todd Ward Brackett, and he’s due next.  And they’re all tryin’ to borry money off’m me and sell me spavined hosses.  Now, let’s see if they can take a hint.”  He tentatively wriggled the toe some more, and groaned.  “The Todds and the Wards better keep away from me.”

Then he suddenly pricked up his ears at the sound of the slow rumble of a wagon turning into the yard.  The wagon halted, and they heard the buzzing twang of a jew’s-harp, played vigorously.