“Ifshecan’thaveonemanshe’lltakethenext，andthenswitchbacksoon’sthewindchanges。However，mostlikelysheneverwasengagedtoMr。Ellery，anyhow。He’sbeenoutofhisheadandmighthavesaidsomefoolthingsthatletDr。Parkerandtherestb’lievehewasinlovewithher。Asforpickin’ofhimupandtotin’himbacktotheshantythatnight，thatwa’n’tnothin’butcommonhumanity。Shecouldn’tlethimdieinthemiddleofthelighthouselane，couldshe？“
Thursdaywasaperfectday，andthereceptioncommitteewasonhandandwaitinginfrontoftheBayportpostoffice。Thespecialcarriage，thespanbrushedandcurrieduntiltheircoatsglistenedinthesunshine，wasdrawnupbesidetheplatform。Thehorseshadlittleflagsfastenedtotheirbridles，andtherewereotherandlargerflagsoneachsideofthedashboard。CaptainDaniels，imposinginhisSundayraiment，high-collaredcoat，stock，silkhatandgold-headedcane，satstifflyerectontheseatintherear。
Theothercarriageswerealongside，amongthemCaptainZebedeeMayo’sancientchaise，thewhitehorsesoundasleepbetweentheshafts。CaptainZebhadnotbeeninvitedtojointheescort，buthadjoineditwithoutaninvitation。
“IguesslikelyI’dbetterbeonhand，“thecaptainconfidedtoDr。
Parker。“MaybeIcanstopElkanahfromtalkin’toomuchabout——