"
She slit the envelope of the letter little John-Ed had just brought
her. Inside was a pale-blue slip--a money order.
"Yes," she said. "I can get away now. I must go somewhere to earn my
living, and as far away from here as I can get."
"So you think on traveling, do you?" said the old man. "You ain't
content with Big Wreck Cove and the Head?"
"Oh, Cap'n Ira!" she cried. "You know I can't stay here. Winter is
coming. Besides, the people here--"
"Ain't none of 'em asked ye to come an' live with them?"
"Cap'n Ball!"
"Ain't ye seen Tunis?"
The girl hid her face from him. She put her hands over her eyes. Her
shoulders shook with her sobbing. Cap'n Ira took a reflective pinch
of snuff.
"I cal'late," he said, after wiping his eyes, "that it ain't Tunis'
fault that you are going away any more than it is mine and
Prudence's. You just made up your mind to go."
"Cap'n Ball!" she exclaimed faintly, and again raised her eyes to
his. "Can--can I help it? _Now?_"
"I don't know," he said, pursing his lips. "I don't know, gal, as
anybody is driving you away from Wreckers' Head and them that loves
ye here."
She was speechless. She gazed at him with drenched eyes, her face
quivering uncontrollably.
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