It was Whyn’s room which received special attention.  A carpet was ordered from the city to take the place of the old hooked-mat, and new curtains were put up to the window.

“My, that looks fine,” Miss Arabella exclaimed, when the last finishing touches had been given to the room.  “It will certainly be a surprise.”

The captain chuckled when he was brought in to give his opinion.  In fact, he had been chuckling ever since Mrs. Britt had received the letter which started her upon the special cleaning of her already neat house.  The scouts felt that something out of the ordinary was pleasing the captain by his jolly manner.  They often discussed it among themselves, but the more they talked, the more puzzled they became.  They all knew about the house-cleaning, the new carpet, and curtains for Whyn’s room, and that Miss Arabella was at the Anchorage most of the time.

“I guess I know what it’s all about,” Tommy Bunker confided one afternoon, when the scouts were discussing the matter.

“What do you know?” Rod asked.

“Jimmy’s going to get married.”

“Married!” was the surprised shout from all.

“Yes.  He’s going to marry Miss Arabella.  Pa said last night that she’s been looking for a man ever since he knew her, and if it wasn’t to be her wedding, he was mighty sure she wouldn’t be so mighty chummy with the captain and his wife.”

“But they wouldn’t live at the Anchorage,” Phil replied.  “Miss Arabella’s got a home of her own, hasn’t she?”

“Pa says that Jimmy and Tom Simpkins don’t agree, and so they couldn’t live in the same house,” Tommy explained.

The scouts no longer scoffed at this idea.  It did seem to them that something like a wedding was about to take place.  The captain was so mysterious and full of fun, while Miss Arabella beamed upon the boys whenever she met them.  It must surely be her wedding, they agreed.

At the close of the second week of all this excitement, the scouts received orders from the captain to meet him at the wharf in full uniform upon the arrival of the evening boat.  They were all there half an hour ahead of time, wondering what was going to happen.  Maybe Jimmy and Miss Arabella had gone to the city that day, had been married, and were coming up on the steamer.  What else could it be?

When at last the steamer did arrive, and the gang-planks had been run out, the scouts strained their eyes in an effort to find out who were coming ashore.  Several landed, and then to their astonishment, who should step out but Anna Royanna!