Captain Jethro, trying to fall asleep on the couch in the dining room, turned over in disgust and raised himself upon an elbow preparatory to shouting an order for silence.  But Primmie’s next speech caught his attention and the order was not given.

“Dreamed!” retorted the indignant young woman.  “Are you tryin’ to tell me I only dreamed about that money, Zacheus Bloomer?  Huh!  My Lord of Isrul!  If you’d seen that great big piled-up heap of bills layin’ right there on the table in our settin’ room where Mr. Bangs put ’em, I guess you’d have said ‘dreams’ and more, too.  Ten dollar bills there was and twenties and—­and thirties and forties, for all I know.”

“That so?  Right where Mr. Bangs put ’em, eh?  Now I know you was dreamin’, Pansy Blossom.  That little dried-up Bangs man ain’t worth more’n ten cents, if that.”

“He ain’t?  How do you know he ain’t?”

“Same as I know when that Lucy Larcom tomcat of Martha’s has been in a fight, by the looks of him.  Look at the Bangs man’s clothes, and—­and his hat—­and—­why, Godfreys mighty, he can’t afford to get his hair cut oftener than once in three months!  Anyhow, he don’t.  And you stand there and tell me he come cruisin’ in t’other night and commenced sheddin’ million dollar bills all over the furniture.  Where’d he get ’em to?  Dig ’em up over in the Baptist graveyard?”

“No, he never.  He got ’em up to Boston.  Leastways, I guess he did, ’cause that’s where he went.  And, besides, what do you know about how much he’s worth?  He may look kind of—­of ratty, but all the same he’s got rich relations.  Why, one of his relations is head of the biggest broke—­I mean, brokin’ and bank place there is in Boston.  Cabot, Bancroft and—­and Thingumbob is the name of it.  And Miss Martha told me ’twas—­”

There was much more of this and the listener on the dining room couch heard it all.  He remained on that couch until Miss Cash, at the back door of the kitchen, delivered her triumphant farewell.

“So there now, Zach Bloomer,” she said, “I guess you believe now I didn’t dream it.  And you needn’t ask any more questions because I sha’n’t tell you a single word.  I promised Miss Martha I wouldn’t never tell and I’m goin’ to keep my promise.”

That evening Martha approached her lodger on the subject of the possibility of selling the light keeper’s Development holdings for him.  To say the least, she received no encouragement.  Galusha was quite emphatic in his expression of disbelief in that possibility.

“Oh, dear me, no, Miss Martha,” he stammered.  “I—­ah—­I feel quite sure it would be unwise to—­ah—­attempt such a thing.  You see—­ah—­ you see—­my cousin is—­is—­”

“I know, he’s sick, poor man, and shouldn’t be disturbed.  You’re right, of course, Mr. Bangs.  It was only that Cap’n Jeth had always been a good friend of father’s and mine and I thought if Cabot, Bancroft and Cabot really were buyin’ the stock perhaps they might like to buy his.  But I can see why you wouldn’t want to trouble Mr. Cabot again just now.  I’m sorry I mentioned it to you; I’m afraid I have made you nervous.”