“You bet your life I would!  She’s the best woman on earth, Mrs. Barnes is.  I’d do anything for her, sacrifice my head, if that was worth five cents to anybody.  All right, he can set if he wants to.  I—­I suppose I might improve his mind, hey, ma’am?  By readin’ to him, I mean.  Mrs. Thankful, she’s been givin’ me books to improve my mind; perhaps they’d improve his if I read ’em out loud to him.  His sister prob’ly won’t like it, but I don’t care.  You couldn’t improve her mind; she ain’t got any.  It all run off the end of her tongue long ago.”

By the Fourth of July the High Cliff House was filled with boarders.  Every room was taken, even the little back bedroom and the big room adjoining it.  These were taken by a young couple from Worcester and, if they heard any unusual noises in their apartment, they did not mention them.  Thankful’s dread of that little room had entirely disappeared.  She was now thoroughly convinced that her imagination and the storm were responsible for the “spooks.”

John Kendrick continued to sleep and eat at the new boarding-house.  He was a general favorite there, although rather silent and disinclined to take an active part in the conversation at table.  He talked more with Emily Howes than with anyone and she and he were becoming very friendly.  Emily, Thankful and Captain Obed Bangs were the only real friends the young man had; he might have had more, but he did not seem to care for them.  With these three, however, and particularly with Emily, he was even confidential, speaking of his professional affairs and prospects, subjects which he never mentioned to others.

These—­the prospects—­were brighter than at first.  He had accepted one case and refused another.  The refusal came as a surprise to East Wellmouth and caused much comment.  Mr. Chris Badger was a passenger on the train from Boston and that train ran off the track at Buzzard’s Bay.  No one was seriously hurt except Mr. Badger.  The latter gentleman purchased a pair of crutches and limped about on them, proclaiming himself a cripple for life.  He and Heman Daniels had had a disagreement over a business matter so Chris took his damage suit against the railroad to John Kendrick.  And John refused it.

Captain Obed, much disturbed, questioned his friend.

“Land of love, John!” he said.  “Here you’ve been roostin’ here, lookin’ out of this window and prayin’ for a job to come along.  Now one does come along and you turn it down.  Why?”

Kendrick laughed.  “I’m cursed with a strong sense of contrast, Captain,” he replied.  “Those crutches are too straight for me.”

The captain stared.  “Straight!” he repeated.  “All crutches are straight, ain’t they?”

“Possibly; but some cripples are crooked.”