Therewasastiratthedoor。Allheadsswunginthatdirection——
allbutMr。Pepper’s，thatis。TheministerandGracewerecominguptheaisleandbehindthemcameCaptainNatHammondandKeziahCoffin。Natwassmilingandself-possessed。NeverbeforeinhislifehadheenteredtheRegularmeetinghouseasaworshiper，butheseemedtobebearingtheordealbravely。ItwasGrace’sfirstvisittothechurch，also，andshewasplainlyembarrassed。Tobestaredatbyeighty-oddpairsofeyes，andtocatchwhisperedcommentsfromthestarers’tongues，islikelytoembarrassone。
Yetthecommentswereallfriendly。
“Ideclare！“whisperedMrs。Prince，“Ineverseeherlooksoprettyafore。Iknewshewasthebestlookin’girlinthistown，butI
neverrealizedshewasSUCHabeauty。Well，there’sonethingsartin’——we’vegotthehandsomestparsonandparson’swifeinTHIS
county，byabouttenmileandfourrowsofappletrees。Andthere’stheotherbridethat’sgoin’tobe。IneverseeKeziahlooksowell，neither。“
Keziahdidlookwell。Herparsonhademergedtriumphantfromhisbattlewithdiseaseandadversefateandwasmorethanevertheidolofhiscongregation。Hewastomarrythegirlofhischoice——
andhers。Thehousekeeper’searswerestillringingwiththethanksofJohnandGrace。Bothseemedtofeelthattoher，KeziahCoffin，morethananyoneelse，theyowedtheirgreatjoy。Someofthethingstheysaidshewouldneverforget。Andherownlife，too，wasfreedforeverofitsburden，thesecretwhichhadhungoverherforsomanyyears。Onlyaveryfewknewthatsecret，andtheywouldnotdiscloseit。Towardthememoryofthemanburiedinthestranger’slotatthecemeteryshefeltalmostkindlynow。
Whilehelivedshehadfearedanddreadedhim，nowshewasbeginningtoforgive。Forhehadpaidhisdebtwithhislife，andwithher，besideher，wastheother，theonewhomshehadloved，hadgivenup，hadmournedfor，andwhowasnowtobehersalways。
NowonderKeziahlookedwell。Shewashappy，andhappinessisawondrousbeautifier。
Theministerwentupthestairstothepulpit。Hewasstillwhiteandthin，buthiseyeswerebrightandhisvoiceclear。Hegaveouttheopeninghymnandtheservicebegan。
Theysaiditwasthefinestsermoneverpreachedinthatchurch，andperhapsitwas。Whenitwasover，beforethebenedictionwaspronounced，Ellerysteppedoutfrombehindthepulpittotheedgeoftheplatform。Helookedoverthefriendlyfacesupturnedtohisand，foraninstant，itseemedthathecouldnottrusthimselftospeak。
“Myfriends，“hesaid，“Icannotletyougowithoutapersonalword。Ioweyousomuch，allofyou，thatnothingIcansaywillconveytoyoumyfeelingofgratitudeandloveforthiscongregationandthischurch。Youhavestoodbymeallthrough。
Youtrustedmeandbelievedinme。IcametoTrumetastranger。I
havefoundherethetruestfriendsamancouldhopetofind——yes，andmorethanfriends。IfIlive，andwhileIlive，IshallhopetoprovebythebesteffortthatisinmemyrealizationofthegreatdebtIoweyouandmydesiretorepayit，eventhoughthepaymentmust，ofnecessity，besoinadequate。Godblessyouall——
andthankyou。“
“Wa’n’titlovely！“gushedDidama。“Andwhenhesaidthatabouttruefriendshewaslookin’straightatGracieallthetime。“
“Didn’tseemtomeso，“declaredGaiusWinslow。“Ithoughthewaslookin’atCap’nHammond。“
“Well，now，that’squeer，“putinMrs。Parker，thedoctor’swife。
“IwouldhaveswornhewaslookingatKeziahCoffin。“
CaptainZebedeegrinned。“Ical’lateyou’reallright，“heobserved。“Iwouldn’twonderifhewaslookin’atallof’em。“
Therewasmuchhandshakingandcongratulationandthechurchemptiedslowly。AmongthelasttoleavewerethePeppersandMr。
Pratt。Laviniatooktheministeraside。
“Mr。Ellery，“shesimpered，“I’ve——thatis，Calebandme——willprob’lywantyouto——Thatis，wewantyoutobetheone——“
“Yes，MissPepper？“
“Oh，mysakes！yousee——’Bishydear，comehereaminute，won’tyou？“
Kyanapproached，thepictureofdesolation。
“Whatdoyouwant？“heaskedgruffly。
“HeavenstoBetsy！Don’tlooksosour。Abody’dthinkyouwasgoin’tobehung，tolookatyou。’Bishy，youtellMr。Elleryallaboutit，there’sadear。He’lltellyou，Mr。Ellery；andrememberwecountonyou。NeithermenorCalebwonthavenobodyelse。“
SheseizedMr。Prattbythearmandledhimhastilyaway。Kyanlookedafterthem。
“Hung？“hemuttered。“Iwish，bygodfreysmighty，Ihadthehangin’ofSOMEfolks！I’dputatightercollaron’emthanthey’vegotnow，Ibetyou！“
Theminister’slipstwitched。Heknewwhatwascoming。HintsofasurprisingnaturehadbeencirculatingaboutTrumet。
“What’sthematter，Mr。Pepper？“heasked。
“Matter？Matterenough！Youknowwhatshe’sgoin’todo？She’sgoin’tomarryTHAT！“
ThelastwordwasemphasizedbyafuriousgesticulationtowardthebackofthegentlemanfromSandwich。
“Who？Mr。Pratt？Isyoursistertomarryhim？Indeed！I
congratulatethemboth——andyou。“
“Me？Whatintunket——Iaskyourpardon，Mr。Ellery，fortalkin’sointhemeetin’house——butwhatareyoucongratulatin’mefor？“
“Why，becauseyoursisteristohaveagoodhusband；atleastpeoplespeakhighlyofhim。“
“Ugh！“
“Andbecause——well，Mr。Pepper，youhavebeenquiteconfidentialwithme；wehavesharedsecrets，youknow；andIthoughtpossiblythenewarrangementmightmakeitabitmorepleasantforyou。“
“Pleasant？How？“
“IsupposeMr。PrattwilltakehisbridehometoSandwich，andyou，beingherealone，willbemorefree。“
“Free？“Kyanrepeatedthewordwrathfully。“Free！I’llbeaboutasfreeasasettin’henunderabarrel，Iwill。Isafellerfreewhenhe’sgottwopickin’athiminsteadofone？IthoughtIwasgoin’tohavealittlepeaceandcomfort；Ithoughtthatsameasyou，Mr。Ellery。I’vehadmysuspicionsastoherandhimforsometime。ThatdaywhenIcal’latedI’dlockedherupandcomebacktofindshe’dgonebuggyridin’，Ithought’twasqueer。WhenshewenttoconferenceandleftmealoneIsmeltarat。Whenshetooktoletterwritin’thesmellgotstronger；untilthelastfewweeksI’vebeensartinofthegameshewasupto。AndInevercomplained，nosir！Somebrotherswouldhaverippeduptheeternalfoundationsaforethey’dhavelettheirsisterbreakuptheirhomeanddesert’emforastiff-necked，bald-headedoldshoepeddlerlike——“
“Hush！hush！Mr。Pepper。Youforget——“
“No，Idon’tforget，nuther。Mr。Ellery，youdon’tknowitall。
WhenLavinycometomeandtoldmewhatshewasgoin’todo，wasI
obstinate？DidIstandonmyrightsasheadofthefamilyandtellhershecouldn’tdoit？No，sir-ee，Ididn’t！Iwasresigned。I
saystoher，’Laviny，’Isays，’Iwon’tsaythatIshan’tbeturriblelonesomewithoutyou。Iwon’tsaythatIain’tsortofshockedandgrievedatourpartin’afteralltheseyears。Butwhat’smypersonalfeelin’swhenIcompare’emwithyourhappiness？
Nothin’，nothin’atall！’Isays。’Blessyou，Laviny，’saysI。
’Whenyougoin’togoaway？’Andwhatdoyous’poseshesaystome？Why，thatshewa’n’tgoin’awayatall。That——thatPrattthinghassoldouthisshoestoreuptoSandwichandiscomin’heretolive。Comin’toliveatourHOUSE，mindyou，withherandwithME！’’Twillbesoniceforyou，’Bishydear，’shesays，’tohaveamaninthehousetokeepyoucomp’nyandlookoutforyouwhenI
ain’tround。’Godfreysmighty！“
ThisportionofKyan’sdisclosurewassurprising，iftheannouncementofhissister’sengagementwasnot。
“Mr。PrattiscomingtoTrumet？“theministerrepeated。“Whatfor？
Whatishegoingtodohere？“
“Keepshoestore，Is’poselikely。Lavinysaysthere’sagoodopenin’foroneinthistown。Itoldherthebestopenin’IcouldthinkofforhimwasthewellandIhopedtothenationhe’dfallintoit。Thenshewentformelikeadogfishafteraherrin’andI
neverhadatasteofvittlestillI’dtookitallbackandsaidI
wasgladhewasgoin’tolivewithus。Free！Don’ttalktomeaboutfreedom！Godfreysmighty！“
Ellerysmotheredhisdesiretolaughandexpressedsympathy。
Abishailistenedinsullensilence。
“Well，“hesaid，turningtogo，“Iain’tgoin’tostandit，ifI
canhelpit。I’vebeendoin’somethinkin’onmyownaccountandthere’stwowaysofgettin’even。ThatCalebcritterismarryin’
intoourfamily’causeheknowsI’mwelloff。I’llcheathim，bygodfreys！I’llwilleverycentofmyfifteenhundreddollarstothepoorortheheathenorsomethin’。Iwill，sure’staxes。“
Theministerwasobligedtolaugh，then。
“Iwouldn’tdothat，“hesaid。“FromwhatIhear，Mr。Prattisworthseveraltimesfifteenhundred。“
“Iknowit；buthe’ssodummeanthat’twouldbreakhishearttoseeeventencentsgettin’awayfromhim。However，thatain’tmyonlyplan。HeandLavinyain’tgotanymortgageonthemarryin’
business。Otherfolkscandoitaswellasthem。WhatdoyouthinkofHannahPoundberry？“
“WhatdoIthinkofher？Whatdoyoumean？“
“NevermindwhatImean。Justyoukeepthatinyourhead，Mr。
Ellery。YourememberthatIaskedyou，asmantoman，’WhatdoyouthinkofHannahPoundberry？’——Yes，yes，Laviny，I’ma-comin’。Theywantmetoaskyoutomarry’em，“headded。“Is’poseyou’llhaveto。Butsay，Mr。Ellery，whenyoudo，justtellPrattthatyourusualpriceforthejobistendollars。That’llspilehishoneymoonforhim，orImissmyguess。“
Heturnedawayandmovedsulkilytowardhisbeckoningsisterandherescort；butwheeledoncemoretoadd，inamysteriouswhisper，“Don’tyouforgetnow，Mr。Ellery。RememberthatquestionIputtoyou：’Whatdoyouthinkof’——Yes，yes，La-viny，Ihearyou！——ofyouknowwho？’“
Thatevening，attheparsonage，KeziahwasclearingthetableandCaptainNatwashelpingher。Ahappypartyoffourhadenjoyedthemeal，JohnandMrs。CoffinactingashostsandGraceandthecaptainbeingtheinvitedguests。Nowtheyoungercouplehadgoneovertothechurch，thebellofwhichwasringingforeveningservice。
“Hurryup，Keziah，“urgedNat。“Ifyouandmedon’tgetdecksclearedprettysoonwe’llbelateformeetin’，andI’dhatetodothat，considerin’I’msuchabrand-newdisciple，asyoumightsay。
Whatdowedonext，shortensail？Likethis，hey？“
Hepulledtheclothfromthetable，sendingthecrumbsflyinginalldirections，andproceededtofoldit，afterafashion。
“There！“heexclaimedwithsatisfaction；“theresheis，canvasfurledandunderbarepoles。Nowwecanclearout，can’twe？
What’sthematter？“
Keziahtooktheclothfromhishandsandrefoldedit。
“NatHammond，“shesaid，laughing，“youmaybeagoodsailor，butyou’reanawfulpoorhousekeeper。Lookatthemessyou’vemadeofthatfloor。“
Natlookedatthescatteredcrumbsandshookhishead。
“Bytheeverlastin’！“heobserved，“Ididmakedirtyweatheronthattack，didn’tI？Cal’lateIain’tmuchofahousekeeper，sameasyousay。Maybethat’swhyIwassodreadfulanxioustogetagoodonetocruisealongwithme。Well，I’vegother。I’msatisfied。“
Hewalkedtothebackdoorofthekitchen，threwitopen，andstoodlookingout。
“Keziah，“hesaid，“comehereaminute。“
Shecamefromthediningroomandstoodathisside。Heputanarmabouther。
“Lookoffthere，“hesaid，pointingwithhisfreehand。Seethat？“
Thesunwasjustsettingandallthewestwasgorgeouswithcrimsonandpurpleandyellow。Thebaywasspangledwithfire，thehighsandbluffsalongtheshorelookedlikebrokengoldeningots。Thefieldsandswampsandsaltmeadows，richintheirspringgloryofbudandnewleaf，weretingedwiththeruddyglow。TheTrumetroofswerebathedinit，theoldpacket，asleepathermooringsbythebreakwater，wassilhouettedagainsttheradiance。Thechurchbellhadceasedtoringandtherewasnotasound，exceptthelowmusicofthedistantsurf。
“Lookatit，Keziah，“urgedCaptainNat。
“I’mlookin’，Nat，“sheanswered。“It’sbeautiful。“
“Ain’tit？Iloveit，youknowthat，andIneverthoughtIshouldbeanxiousforthetimetocomewhenImustleaveit。ButIam。I
wanttogo。“
Theyweretobemarriedinanothermonth。Itwouldbeadoublewedding，forGraceandtheministerweretobemarriedatthesametime。ThenNatandhiswifeweretogotoNewYork，whereanewship，justoutofthebuilders’hands，wastobereadyforhim。
Shewasafineone，thissuccessortotheSeaMist。ShehadbeenbuildingformorethanayearandwhenCaptainHammondreturned，safeandsound，andwiththeirmoneyinhispossession，theownersdecidedatoncethatheshouldcommandtheadditiontotheirfleet。
ShewastosailforLiverpoolandKeziahwastobeapassenger。
“Ican’thardlywaittogettosea，“wentonNat。“Thinkofit！
Nomorelonesomemealsinthecabin，thinkin’aboutyouandabouthome。No，sir！youandhome’llberightaboardwithme。Thinkofthefunwe’llhaveintheforeignports。London，andyouandmegoin’sightseein’throughit！AndHavreandGibraltarandMarseillesandGenoaand——and——byandby，CalcuttaandHongKongandSingapore。I’veseen’emall，ofcourse，butyouhaven’t。I
tellyou，Keziah，thattimewhenIfirstsawarealhopeofgettin’
you，thattimeafterI’dlearnedfromJohnthatthatbigtroubleofyourswasoutofthewayforever，onmywayuptoBostoninthecarsImademyselfapromise——IsworethatifyoudidsayyestomeI’ddomybesttomaketherestofyourlifeassmoothandpleasantasthepastsofarhadbeenrough。Iain’trichenoughtogiveyouwhatyoudeserve，nowherenear；butI’llworkhardanddomybest，mygirl——yousee。“
Keziahwaslookingoutoverthebay，hereyesbrighterthanthesunset。Nowsheturnedtolookupintohisface。
“Rich！“sherepeated，withalittlecatchinhervoice。“Rich！
thereneverwasawomaninthisworldsorichasIamthisminute。
Orsohappy，either。“
End