“You did it!  I knew you would if you would only try.  I said it required a knack or a genius or something and that I was certain you had it.  It’s the dearest place of the kind I’ve ever seen, my dear, and if every single person I know who is in this vicinity doesn’t come here at least once a week and spend lots and lots of money I’ll never speak to them again.  I’m going to turn myself into a walking phonograph, my dear, with just one record:  ‘If you love me visit the For’ard Lookout.’  And of course everyone loves me—­how can they help it?  So—­well, just wait and see what happens.”

So far as spreading abroad the praises of the new tea-room was concerned, she was as good as her word.  In August the patronage was so great and continuous that Mary found it necessary to hire three more waitresses and a salesgirl for the gift shop.  She spent more of her own time there, leaving the care of the store to Shadrach, Simeon Crocker and a new clerk, who had been hired to help with the summer custom.  When early September brought the beginning of the season’s end the books of both the Lookout and of Hamilton and Company showed a substantial profit.

While all this was going on Zoeth was steadily gaining in health and strength.  In July he was sitting in the sunshine upon the front porch.  In August he was able to climb to the buggy seat and be driven up to the store, where day after day he sat in his armchair behind the counter, watching what was going on, listening to his partner’s happy chatter—­for Shadrach was in high spirits now—­and occasionally saying a word or two himself.  On pleasant Sundays he was driven to church and the Captain and Mary accompanied him.  He was white and frail and thin, but the doctor assured them that, so far as he could see, there was no reason to expect anything but a complete recovery.

It did seem to Captain Shad, however, that his partner had something on his mind.  He seemed often to be thinking deeply and at times to be troubled and disturbed.  The Captain had never asked, never attempted by questioning to learn what the cause of the trouble—­provided there was any—­might be.  He had been told often enough that the patient must not be excited, so he meant to take no risks, but Zoeth’s long silences and the expression on his face as he sat there in the chair, evidently thinking deeply, puzzled and worried his friend and partner.  He noticed the same expression at times when Mary was in the room.  Zoeth’s eyes would follow her as she moved about and in them was the look the Captain could not understand.

Shadrach had told his friend of Mary’s sending young Smith away.  Zoeth had asked concerning Crawford almost as soon as he was permitted to take part in a lengthy conversation.  He appeared greatly interested, even eager.

“But, Shadrach,” he said, “are you sure she sent him away because she didn’t care for him?  Are you sure that was the reason?”

“What other reason could there be?” demanded the Captain.  “She as much as told me that was it, herself.  I was some surprised, of course, for I’d rather cal’lated ’twas as good as settled between ’em, but it turned out that I didn’t know what I was talkin’ about.  That has happened afore in my life, strange as it may seem,” he added dryly.