“I give you my word that ’twas pretty nigh a stark calm, but there was such a steady stream of language pourin’ out of the Pepper stateroom that the draught kept the sails filled all the way home,” asserted Captain Higgins.

That was Kyan’s sole venture, so far as sailoring was concerned, but he ran away again when he was twenty-five.  This time he returned of his own accord, bringing a wife with him, one Evelyn Gott of Ostable.  Evelyn could talk a bit herself, and her first interview with Lavinia ended with the latter’s leaving the house in a rage, swearing never to set foot in it again.  This oath she broke the day of her sister-in-law’s funeral.  Then she appeared, after the ceremony, her baggage on the wagon with her.  The bereaved one, who was sitting on the front stoop of his dwelling with, so people say, a most resigned expression on his meek countenance, looked up and saw her.

“My land!  Laviny,” he exclaimed, turning pale.  “Where’d you come from?”

“Never mind where I come from,” observed his sister promptly.  “You just be thankful I’ve come.  If ever a body needed some one to take care of ’em, it’s you.  You can tote my things right in,” she added, turning to her grinning driver, “and you, ’Bishy, go right in with ’em.  The idea of your settin’ outside takin’ it easy when your poor wife ain’t been buried more’n an hour!”

“But—­but—­Laviny,” protested poor Kyan, speaking the truth unwittingly, “I couldn’t take it easy afore she was buried, could I?”

“Go right in,” was the answer.  “March!”

Abishai marched, and had marched under his sister’s orders ever since.  She kept house for him, and did it well, but her one fear was that some female might again capture him, and she watched him with an eagle eye.  He was the town assessor and tax collector, but when he visited dwellings containing single women or widows, Lavinia always accompanied him, “to help him in his figgerin’,” she said.

Consequently, when he appeared, unchaperoned, on the walk leading to the side door of the Coffin homestead, Keziah and her friend were surprised.

“He’s dressed to kill,” whispered Grace, at the window.  “Even his tall hat; and in this fog!  I do believe he’s coming courting, Aunt Keziah.”

“Humph!” was the ungracious answer.  “He’s come to say good-by, I s’pose, and to find out where I’m goin’ and how much pay I’m goin’ to get and if my rent’s settled, and a few other little things that ain’t any of his business.  Laviny put him up to it, you see.  She’ll be along pretty quick.  Well, I’ll fix him so he won’t talk much.  He can help us take down that stovepipe.  I said ’twas a job for a man, and a half one’s better than none—­Why, how d’ye do, ’Bishy?  Come right in.  Pretty thick outside, isn’t it?”

Mr. Pepper entered diffidently.

“Er—­er—­how d’ye do, Keziah?” he stammered.  “I thought I’d just run in a minute and—­”