Marcellus.

Judge Baxter folded the sheets of foolscap and laid them on the table.  Then he took off his spectacles and wiped them with his handkerchief.

“Well, gentlemen?” he said, after a moment.

Captain Gould drew a long breath.

“I don’t think it’s well,” he observed.  “I think it’s about as sick as it can be, and I cal’late Zoeth feels the same; eh, Zoeth?”

Mr. Hamilton did not answer.  He neither spoke nor moved.

“Of course,” said the lawyer, “it is not necessary that you make up your minds this instant.  You will probably wish a few days to think the matter over in and then you can let me know what you decide.  You have heard the letter and I have explained the situation.  Are there any questions you would like to ask?”

Shadrach shook his head.

“No, not far’s I’m concerned,” he said.  “My mind is made up now.  I did think there wasn’t anything I wouldn’t do for Marcellus.  And I would have done anything in reason.  But this ain’t reason—­it’s what I called it in the beginnin’, craziness.  Me and Zoeth can’t go crazy for anybody.”

“Then you decline?”

“Yes, sir; I’m mighty sorry but of course we can’t do such a thing.  Me and Zoeth, one of us a bach all his life, and t’other one a—­a widower for twenty years, for us to take a child to bring up!  My soul and body!  Havin’ hung on to the heft of our senses so far, course we decline!  We can’t do nothin’ else.”

“And you, Mr. Hamilton?”

Zoeth appeared to hesitate.  Then he asked: 

“What sort of a girl is she?”

“Mary-’Gusta?  She’s a bright child, and a well-behaved one, generally speaking.  Rather old for her years, and a little—­well, peculiar.  That isn’t strange, considering the life she has led since her mother’s death.  But she is a good girl and a pretty little thing.  I like her; so does my wife.”

“That was her at the cemetery, wasn’t it?  She was with that Hobbs woman?”

“Yes.”

“I thought so.  Shadrach and I met her when we was over here two years ago.  I thought the one at the graveyard was her.  Poor little critter!  Where is she now; at the house—­at Marcellus’s?”

“Yes; that is, I suppose she is.”

“Do you—­do you cal’late we could see her if we went there now?”

“Yes, I am sure you could.”

Zoeth rose.

“Come on, Shadrach,” he said, “let’s go.”

The Captain stared at him.

“Go?” he repeated.  “Where?  Home, do you mean?”

“No, not yet.  I mean over to Marcellus’s to see that little girl.”

“Zoeth Hamilton!  Do you mean to tell me—­What do you want to see her for?  Do you want to make it harder for her and for us and for all hands?  What good is seein’ her goin’ to do?  Ain’t it twice as easy to say no now and be done with it?”

“I suppose likely ’twould be, but it wouldn’t be right Marcellus asked us to do this thing for him and—­”