“Oh, he is, eh?”

“Of course.  He couldn’t help it, he’s so good.  Don’t you think he’ll go to Heaven, Uncle Shad?”

“Who?  Zoeth?  Sartin I do.  If he don’t, nobody will.”

“Wouldn’t it make you feel bad if you was afraid he wouldn’t go there?”

“Humph!  Maybe so, but I ain’t afraid.”

“I know, but he is afraid you won’t.  He thinks an awful lot of you; as much as you do of him, you know.  Uncle Shad, I’m goin’ to meetin’ with Uncle Zoeth this mornin’, and I want you to go with us; will you?”

The Captain pulled his beard.

“Look here, Mary-’Gusta,” he said.  “What’s all this about, anyway?  You don’t cal’late I’d take you walkin’ Sundays if I thought ’twas wicked, do you?”

“No, sir; but Uncle Zoeth thinks not goin’ to church is wicked.  If you and I went to church with him ’twould please him ever so much.”

“Maybe so, but ‘twould please you and me if he went walkin’ with us.  I’ve asked him times enough.  Why can’t he do what I want as well as my doin’ what he wants?”

“‘Cause he thinks it’s wrong.  You don’t think goin’ to church is wrong, do you, Uncle Shad?”

Shadrach shook his head.  “By fire!” he exclaimed.  “You’re a regular young lawyer, you are, Mary-’Gusta.  Judge Baxter hasn’t got you beat when it comes to makin’ out a case.  Look here, now; be honest; hadn’t you rather go to walk with me than go to that meetin’-house?”

“Yes, sir,” frankly; “I’d rather.”

“Oh, you had, eh?  But all the same you want us to give up our walk and go to church every Sunday just to please Zoeth.  Is that it?”

Mary-’Gusta took his hand.  “No, sir,” she said shyly, “but I thought perhaps we could divide up.  You and I could go with him one Sunday and to walk the next Sunday.  That would be fair.  I’m his little girl same as I am yours, Uncle Shad, ain’t I?”

Shadrach was stumped, and he went to church that Sunday morning.  The sermon had nothing to do with Jonah or the whale, so his feelings were not ruffled.  Zoeth was mightily pleased and Mary-’Gusta was happy because he was.  The plan of alternate Sundays was adopted.  It was but one instance of the “managing” quality which the girl possessed.  Isaiah declared that she wound all hands around her little finger, but even he seemed to enjoy the winding.

As she grew older Mary-’Gusta learned more and more concerning her uncles, their habits, their contrasting temperaments and their past history.  She learned a little of Hall and Company, the prosperous firm of which they had been partners, with Marcellus Hall, her stepfather, as the head.  Isaiah told her a little concerning the firm:  “No bigger on Cape Cod,” he declared.  She asked why it had not continued in business.  Mr. Chase brusquely answered that it hadn’t, that’s all, and would not give any particulars.  She questioned the steward concerning Shadrach and Zoeth.  The former had never married; that was funny; why hadn’t he?  Isaiah said he did not know.  Hadn’t Uncle Zoeth ever married, either?  Yes, Zoeth had married.