So although Mary did notice that the two new shops in the village seemed to be prospering and that business at Hamilton and Company’s was not rushing even for September, the answers to her questions were so reassuring that her uneasiness was driven away.  Her Uncle Zoeth evaded direct reply and Captain Shadrach prevaricated whole-heartedly and cheerfully.  Even Isaiah declared that “everything and all hands was doin’ fine.”  But Mary made him promise that should it ever be otherwise than fine he would write her immediately.  He gave the promise with some reluctance.

“I cal’late if Cap’n Shad caught me tellin’ tales out of school he’d go to work and turn to and bust me over the head with a marlinespike,” said Mr. Chase, with the air of one stating a fact.

Mary laughed.  “Oh, no, he wouldn’t,” she declared.  “I’ll stand back of you, Isaiah.  Now mind, you are to keep me posted on just how things are here.”

CHAPTER XVI

Mary went back to Boston and to school, where old acquaintances were renewed and new ones made.  The Misses Cabot welcomed her with fussy and dignified condescension.  Barbara Howe hugged and kissed her and vowed she had not seen a girl all summer who was half so sweet.

“Why in the world someone doesn’t run off with you and marry you this very minute I cannot see,” declared the vivacious young lady.  “If I were a man I should.”

Mary, who was used to Miss Howe’s outbursts, merely smiled.

“Oh, no, you wouldn’t,” she replied.  “I should hope you would be more sensible.  No one will run off with me; at least I wouldn’t run off with them.”

“Why not?  Don’t you think an elopement is perfectly splendid—­so romantic and all that?  Suppose you were head over heels in love with someone and his people were dead set against his marrying you, wouldn’t you elope then?”

“I think I shouldn’t.  I think I should try to find out why they were so opposed to me.  Perhaps there might be some good reason.  If there were no good reason, then—­why, then—­well, I don’t know.  But I should hesitate a long while before I came between a person and his family.  It must be dreadful to do that.”

Barbara laughed.  “Nonsense!” she cried.  “It’s done every day in the best families, my dear.  And then the reconciliation is all the sweeter.  You just wait!  Some of these days I expect to read:  ’Elopement in South Harniss High Life.  Beautiful Society Maiden Weds Famous Former Football—­er—­er—­I want another F—­Oh, yes, Famous Former Football Favorite.’  Isn’t that beautiful?  Dear me, how you blush!  Or is it sunburn?  At any rate, it’s very becoming.”

The Famous Former Football Favorite called at Mrs. Wyeth’s on the evening following that of Mary’s return to Boston.  He was as big and brown as ever and declared that he had had a wonderful vacation.

“And you’re looking awfully well, too,” he exclaimed, inspecting her from head to foot.  “She is, isn’t she, Mrs. Wyeth?”