“There，dad，“saidthelatter，“don’tyouworryaboutZekeBassett，noranythingelse。YoujustlayindrydockandletParkerhereoverhaulyourrunnin’riggin’andgetyoufitforsea。That’swhatyou’vegottodo。“
“I’mfitandreadyfortheseaI’mgoin’tosail，“wastheanswer。
HiseyeswanderedfromhissontoMrs。Coffin。Foraninstantheseemedpuzzled。Thenhesaid：
“’Evenin’，Keziah。Idon’tknowwhyyou’rehere，but——“
“IheardthatGracewasaloneandthatyouwassick，Eben。SoI