"Oh, you can't always tell," he said.

"Sometimes you meet folks oftener'n you think in this world." Mary-'Gusta looked at him.

"Uncle Shad," she said, "what does all this mean, anyway?
Why did you go to her house?
And what was the mysterious business of yours with Mr.Keith ?" The Captain shook his head.

"We've got a hen on, same as I told you," he declared.

"When it's time for the critter to come off the nest you'll see what's been hatched same as the rest of us.