Mr. Cobb interrupted.  “Said?” he repeated, sharply.  “What do you mean he said?  Eh?  What do you know he said?”

“Why—­why, he told you about me.  You said yourself he did.  How much he thought of me, and all.”

“Is that all you meant?”

“Yes, of course.  What else is there to mean?  Solomon, you profess to be a Christian.  You knew my uncle.  He did lots of favors for you; I know he did.  Now—­”

“Sshh! shh!” Mr. Cobb seemed strangely perturbed.  He waved his hand.  “Hush!” he repeated.  “What are you draggin’ Cap’n Abner and Christianity and all that in for?  They ain’t got nothin’ to do with that mortgage.  Who said they had?”

“Why, no one said it.  No one said anything; no one but me.  I don’t know what you mean—­”

“Mean!  I don’t mean nothin’.  There!  There!  Clear out and don’t bother me no more today.  I’m—­I ain’t feelin’ well.  Got a cold comin’ on, I cal’late.  Clear off home and let me alone.”

“But I can’t go until you tell me about that mortgage.”

“Yes, you can, too.  I can’t tell you about nothin’ just now.  I got to think, ain’t I?  Maybe I’ll renew that mortgage and maybe I won’t.  I’ll tell you when I make up my mind.  Time enough between now and spring.  I—­Ah, Ezry, how be you?  Come on in.  Glad to see you.”

The last portion of the foregoing was addressed to a man who had entered the office.  Mr. Cobb did look as if he was really glad to see him.

Thankful rose.  “I’ll go,” she said, drearily.  “I suppose I might as well.  But I shan’t sleep much until you make up that mind of yours.  And do make it up the right way, for my sake—­and Uncle Abner’s.”

Her relative waved both hands this time.

“Shh!” he ordered, desperately.  “Don’t say no more now; I don’t want the whole creation to know my business and yours.  Go on home.  I—­I’ll come over and see you by and by.”

So, because she saw there was no use remaining, Mrs. Barnes went.  The drive home, through the dismal grayness of the cloudy afternoon, seemed longer and more trying than the trip over.  The dream of raising money for the spring additions and alterations was over; the High Cliff House must do its best as it was for another year at least.  As to the renewal of the mortgage, there was a faint hope.  Mr. Cobb’s final remarks had inspired that hope.  He had been on the point of refusing to renew, Thankful was sure of that.  Then something was said which caused him to hesitate.  Mrs. Barnes looked out between the ears of jogging George Washington and spoke her thought aloud.

“It’s somethin’ to do with Uncle Abner,” she soliloquized.  “He don’t like to have Uncle Abner mentioned.  Hum!  I wonder what the reason is.  I only wish I knew.”

To Emily, who was eagerly waiting to hear the result of her cousin’s visit to Solomon Cobb, Thankful told but a portion of the truth.  She did say, however, that the additional loan appeared to be out of the question and she guessed they would have to get on without the needed alterations for another year.  Emily thought they should not.