"What in the world is that old idiot comin' here for?
To talk about the minister, I s'pose.

How on earth did Laviny ever come to let him out alone ?" Mr.Pepper, Mr.Abishai Pepper, locally called "Kyan" (Cayenne) Pepper because of his red hair and thin red side whiskers, was one of Trumet's "characters," and in his case the character was weak.

He was born in the village and, when a youngster, had, like every other boy of good family in the community, cherished ambitions for a seafaring life.

His sister, Lavinia, ten years older than he, who, after the death of their parents, had undertaken the job of "bringing up" her brother, did not sympathize with these ambitions.

Consequently, when Kyan ran away she followed him to Boston, stalked aboard the vessel where he had shipped, and collared him, literally and figuratively.