He swept into the room like a northwest breeze, and two bundles of wooden strips, cut to the size of mill arms, clattered to the floor as he did so.
"Hello, Jed!" he hailed, in a voice which measured up to the rest of him.

Then, noticing Mr.Bearse for the first time, he added: "Hello, Gabe, what are you doin' here ?" Gabriel hastened to explain.

His habitual desire to please and humor each person he met--each person of consequence, that is; very poor people or village eccentrics like Jed Winslow did not much matter, of course--was in this case augmented by a particular desire to please Captain Sam Hunniwell.

Captain Sam, being one of Orham's most influential men, was not, in Mr.Bearse's estimation, at all the sort of person whom it was advisable to displease.

He might--and did--talk disparagingly of him behind his back, as he did behind the back of every one else, but he smiled humbly and spoke softly in his presence.