Captain Obed was saved the embarrassment of further protestations by the entrance of Thankful herself; Emily accompanied her.  The captain shook hands with Mrs. Barnes and her cousin and hastened to announce that he heard “big news” down street and had run over to find out how much truth there was in it.

“Couldn’t scurcely believe it, myself,” he declared.  “John here, never said a word about his high-toned relation comin’ to East Wellmouth.  Had you any idea he was comin’, John?”

John shook his head.

“No,” he said.  “The last time I saw him in New York, which was two years or more ago, he did say something about being on the lookout for a summer residence.  But he did not mention East Wellmouth; nor did I. I remember hearing that he and the late Mr. Colfax were quite friendly, associated in business affairs, I believe.  Probably that accounts for his being here.”

“Set down, everybody,” urged Thankful.  “I’m willin’ to set down, myself, I can tell you.  Been on my feet ’most of the day.  What sort of a person is this relation of yours, Mr. Kendrick?  He ought to be all right, if there’s anything in family connections.”

Heman Daniels answered the question.  He spoke with authority.

“Mr. Holliday is a fine gentleman,” he announced, emphatically.  “I’ve seen him two or three times since he came.  He’s a millionaire, but it doesn’t make him pompous or stand-offish.  He and I spoke—­er—­conversed together as friendly and easy as if we had known each other all our lives.  He is very much interested in East Wellmouth.  He tells me that, if the place keeps on suiting him as it has so far, he intends making it his permanent home.  Of course he won’t stay here all the year—­the family have a house in Florida and one in New York, I believe—­but he will call East Wellmouth his real home and his interests will center here.”

There was a general expression of satisfaction.  Miss Timpson declared that it was “real lovely” of Mr. Holliday Kendrick.  Caleb Hammond announced that he always cal’lated there was a boom coming for the town.  Had said so more times than he could count.  “Folks’ll tell you I said it, too,” he proclaimed stoutly.  “They’ll bear me out in it, if you ask ’em.”

“I’m glad we’re goin’ to have such nice neighbors,” said Thankful.  “It’s always worried me a little wonderin’ who that Colfax place might be sold to.  I didn’t know but somebody might get it with the notion of startin’ another hotel.”

“Hannah Parker ain’t opened her mouth to talk of anything else since I got back,” said Captain Bangs.  “And it’s been open most of the time, too.  She says John’s rich relation’s locatin’ here is a dissipation of Providence, if you know what that is.”

John smiled but he said nothing.  Emily was silent, also; she was regarding the young man intently.

“Yes, sir,” continued Mr. Daniels, evidently pleased at the approval with which his statement had been met.  “Yes, sir, Mr. E. Holliday Kendrick is destined to be a great acquisition to this town; mark my words.  He tells me he shall hire no one to do his work except East Wellmouth people.  And there will be a lot of work to be done, if he carries out his plans.  He intends building an addition to his house, and enlarging his estate—­”