“’Twas Rastus Young,” replied Mr. Chase promptly.

Even the Captain was obliged to laugh, although he declared that Mr. Young’s constancy was a proof that the firm’s prospects were good.

“Rats’ll always leave a sinkin’ ship,” he said, “and if Zoeth and me was goin’ under Rat Young would be the first to quit.”

Zoeth, when his niece questioned him, expressed confidence that the new competitors would not prove dangerous.  “The Almighty has looked after us so far,” he added, “unworthy as we be, and I guess he’ll carry us the rest of the way.  Put your trust in Him, Mary-’Gusta; I hope they teach you that up to school.”

So Mary, who had been rather troubled at the news of Hamilton and Company’s rivals in the field, dismissed her fears as groundless.  Her uncles were old-fashioned and a little behind the times in business methods, but no doubt those methods were suited to South Harniss and there was no cause for worry concerning the firm’s future.  She made Isaiah promise to keep her posted as to developments and went back to Boston and her schoolwork.

CHAPTER XIV

The spring term was an interesting one and there were other interests as well.  Crawford called more frequently, the plans for Commencement requiring a great deal of discussion.  Mary’s fondness for managing was, or should have been, gratified, for the talent was in constant demand.  Sam Keith, who, after meeting Mary at his cousin’s house, had at first developed an amazing fondness for that relative’s society, now came less often.  He was in the second stage of the pretty-girl disease mentioned by his aunt; the fever and delirium had passed, and he was now cooling off.  It cannot be said that the fever had been in the least encouraged.  Mary was pleasant and agreeable when he called, but she would not treat him as a confidant or an intimate; she did not accept any of his invitations to dances or the theater, and she would not flirt even the least little bit.  The last was the most unsatisfactory drawback, because the susceptible Samuel was fond of flirtations and usually managed to keep at least three going at the same time.  Therefore, the cooling-off process was, in this case, a bit more rapid than usual.  Sam’s calls and dinners at his cousin Emily’s residence had decreased from two or three times a week to an uncertain once a fortnight.  Mary, of course, noticed this, but she felt no regret.  Crawford, Sam’s roommate, must have noticed it also, but if he felt regret he managed to conceal the feeling remarkably well.

Early in May Captain Shadrach came up to the city to buy summer goods for the store.  He positively refused to make his headquarters at Mrs. Wyeth’s, although that lady sent an urgent invitation to him to do so.  And, even when Mary added her own plea to that of her landlady, the Captain still refused.