"Our ages and that sort of thing! Captain Cyrus, I wish you would go to Washington.

I think you ought to go." But the captain's thoughts were far from Washington at that moment.

His own face was alight, and his eyes shone.
"Phoebe," he faltered unbelievingly, "what was you goin' to say?
Do you mean that--that--" The side door of the house opened.

The next instant Mr.Tidditt, a dripping umbrella in his hand, entered the sitting room.
"Hello, Whit!" he hailed.

"Just run in for a minute to say howdy." Then he noticed the schoolmistress, and his expression changed.