His legs got to working without volition,
it seemed, and he was several rods away before he realized that he
had not spoken to the girl at all.
Zebedee Pauling, whose ancestor had been an admiral and was never
forgotten by the Pauling family--Paulmouth was said to have been
named in their honor--arrived at the Ball back door just as the
family was finishing the usual "picked-up" washday dinner. Zebedee
took off his cap with a flourish, and his grin advertised to all
beholders the fact that he felt shy but pleased at his own courage
in appearing thus on the Head.
"Why, Zeb!" exclaimed Prudence. "We haven't seen you up here for a
dog's age. Won't you set?"
"Oh, no'm, no'm! I was just stopping by and thought I'd ask how are
you all, Aunt Prue."
He bobbed and smiled, but kept his gaze fixed upon Sheila to the
exclusion of the two old people. But Cap'n Ira was never to be
overlooked.
"You're going to be mighty neighborly, now, Zeb," he said. "We shall
see you often."
"Er--I don't know, Cap'n Ira," stammered Zebedee, rather taken
aback.
The old man rose and hobbled toward the door with the aid of his
cane, fumbling in his pocket meanwhile.
"Here, Zeb," he said, producing a dime.
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