Miss Pease told of her plan and Captain Shad listened, at first with astonishment, then with a troubled expression and at last with a combination of both.

“There,” said Miss Pease, in conclusion, “that is my plan.  It means a great deal to me and I hope it may mean something to Mary.”

“It will be a wonderful opportunity for her,” declared Mrs. Wyeth emphatically.

“What do you think of it, Captain Gould?” asked Miss Pease.

Shadrach drew a long breath.  “I—­I don’t know hardly what to say, ma’am,” he answered.  “I can’t hardly realize it yet, seems so.  It sartinly would be a wonderful chance for her and it’s somethin’ me and Zoeth could never give her or think of givin’.  But—­but—­”

“Of course,” said Miss Pease, as he hesitated, “if she is needed very much at home—­if you feel you cannot spare her—­”

“’Tain’t that, ma’am,” interrupted the Captain quickly.  “Land knows Zoeth and me would miss her awful, but we wouldn’t let that stand in the way—­not of anything like this.  But—­but—­well, to be right down honest, ma’am, I don’t know’s we’d feel like havin’ somebody else do so much for her.  Course we ain’t well off, Zoeth and I ain’t, but we ain’t right down poor, either.  We’ve been used to doin’ for ourselves and—­”

And then Miss Pease had an inspiration.

“Oh, dear me!” she broke in hastily.  “I do hope you haven’t made a mistake, Captain Gould.  I hope you don’t think I am offering this as a charity or purely as a favor to Mary.  No, indeed!  I am asking it as a favor to myself.  I must have a companion, otherwise I cannot go.  And Mary is just the companion I need.  I am very fond of her and I think she likes me.  I am not going to urge too much, Captain Gould, but I do hope you will consider the matter with Mr. Hamilton and let me hear from you soon.  And I am hoping you will consent.  I promise to take good care of your girl and bring her back safe and sound in September.  And I shall not say one word of my great plan to her until you write me that I may.”

So Captain Shadrach, the troubled expression still on his face, returned on the afternoon train to South Harniss to tell his friend and partner of Miss Pease’s plan.  Mary, who accompanied him to the Boston station, wondered why he seemed so preoccupied and quiet.  If she had known what his thoughts were she would have wondered no longer.

Miss Pease planned to travel through Europe during the summer months, and she had asked the Captain’s permission to take Mary with her as her guest and friend and companion.

CHAPTER XV

If time and space did not matter, and if even more important happenings in Mary-’Gusta’s life were not as close at hand to claim attention, it would be interesting to describe at length those of that spring and the summer which followed it.  Summarized in chronological order, they were these:  First, the lengthy discussions between the partners concerning Miss Pease’s plan, discussions which ended by Zoeth, as senior partner, writing Miss Pease: