Hergrimnessdisappearedandshesmiled。
“I’llhaveyoursupperreadyforyou，“shesaid。“Bringbackagoodappetite。“
Theyoungmanhesitatedonthethreshold。
“Mrs。Coffin，“hedemanded，“wouldYOUhavecalledonlyonthearistocratsatfirst？“
Sheshookherhead，smilingstill。
“No，“shereplied，“notme。I’vealwaystakenrisks。ButIdidn’tknowbutyoumightbeasafesailor。Itsavesalotoftroubleinthisworld。“
“Howaboutthenext？“
“Oh，well，perhapseventhescummaycountforsomethin’overthere。“Sheturnedtofacehimandhersmilevanished。“Goon，Mr。Ellery，“shesaid。“Goandcallwhereyouplease。FarbeitfrommethatIshouldtellyoutodoanythingelse。Isupposelikelyyouhopesomedaytobeagreatpreacher。Ihopeyouwill。
ButI’denoughsightratheryouwasagoodmanthantheverygreatest。Noreasonwhyyoucan’tbeboth。TherewasapreacheroverinGalileeonce，soyoutoldusyesterday，whowasjustgood。
’Twa’n’ttillyearsafterwardsthatthecrowdcametorealizethathewasgreat，too。And，ifIrecollectright，hechummedinwithpublicansandsinners。I’mgladyoutoreupthatfoolpaperofmine。IhopedyoumightwhenIgaveittoyou。Nowyourunalong，andI’llwashdishes。Ifcleanlinessisnexttogodliness，thenaparsonoughttoeatoutofcleanplates。“
Asamatteroffact，theminister’scallswereinthenatureofacompromise，althoughanunintentionalone。HedroppedinonZebedeeMayo，ownerofthebighouseontheslopeofthehill。
CaptainZebtookhimupintowhathecalledhis“cupoler，“theobservatoryonthetopofthehouse，andshowedhimTrumetspreadoutlikeamap。Themainroadwasnorthandsouth，windingandtwistingitsrutted，sandyway。Alongitwereclusteredtheprincipalhousesandshops，shadedbysilver-leafpoplars，afewelms，andsomewillowsandspruces。Eachtreebentslightlyawayfromthenortheast，thedirectionfromwhichblewtheheavywintergales。Beyondthemainroadweregreenslopesandpastures，withswampsinthehollows，swampswhichweretobecranberrybogsinthedaystocome。Thenthelowerroad，withmorehouses，and，fartheron，thebeach，theflats——partiallyuncoveredbecauseitwashightide——andthebay。
BehindtheMayohousewasthecrestofCannonHill，morehills，pasturesandswamps，scatteredhousesandpinegroves。Thenbeganthetumbled，humpedwasteofsanddunes，and，overtheirraggedfringesofbeachplumandbayberrybushes，thedeepblueofthewideAtlantic。Thelighthousewasawhitedotandthefishshantiesablotchofbrown。Alongtheinneredgeofthebluewerescarsofdancingwhite，theflashingteethofhungryshoalswhichhadtorntopiecesandswallowedmanyagoodship。And，farout，dottedandsprinkledalongthehorizon，weresails。
“See？“saidCaptainZeb，puffingstillfromtheexertionofclimbingtheladdertothe“cupoler，“forhewasdistinctly“fleshy。““See？Thebeacon’sup。Packetcomeinthismornin’。
Theresheis。Seeherdowntherebythebreakwater？“
Sureenough，theemptybarrel，paintedred，washoistedtothetopofitspoleonthecrestofCannonHill。And，lookingdownatthebayandfollowingthedirectionofthestubbypointingfinger，Ellerysawalittleschooner，withhersailslowered，lying，slightlyonherside，inashallowpoolnearalongridgeofpiledstones——thebreakwater。Asmallwharfmadeoutfromtheshoreandblackfiguresmovedbrisklyuponit。Cartswerealongsidetheschoonerandtheremoredotswerebusy。
“Eben’spennant’sflyin’，“saidCaptainZeb。“Healwayssetscolorswhenthepacket’sin。Keepspackettavern，Ebendoes。
That’sit，thatold-fashioned，gambrel-roofedhouseontherisebythewharf。Callit’Saints’Rest，’theydonow，’causeEben’ssomightyreligious。“
Theministersawthelong，ramblinghouse，withonelonely，twistedtreeinitsyard，aflagflyingfromapolebesideit。SothatwaswheretheHammondslived。Andwherethegirllivedwhowascertainhewasa“conceitedsnippet。“Whateverhemightbeinrealityhehopeditwasnotthat。“Snippet“wasnotinhisdictionary，buthedidn’tlikethesoundofit。
“Whoownsthepacket？“heasked，tomakeconversation。
“ZachFoster。MarriedFreewillDoane’sdaughterovertoHarniss。
She’sdeadnow。“
“Agoodsailor，ishe？“
CaptainZebspatinsupremedisgust。
“Goodfarmer！“hesnorted。“Zachtookoverthepacketforadebtwhenthechapthatusedtorunherdied。Hisdad，oldmanFoster，raisedgardentruckatthesametimeminewenttosea。Bothofustookafterourfathers，Iguess。Anyhow，mywifesaysthatwhenI
die’twillbeofsaltwateronthebrain，andI’msureZach’sheadispartcabbage。Beenbetterforhimifhe’dstucktohisgarden。
However，Is’posehedoeshisbest。“
“Theysayangelscandonomore。“
“Um-m。Well，Zach’llbeanangelprettysoonifhekeepsoncruisin’withthatoldhookerassheis。’BijahPerry，he’smateandtheonlygoodseamanaboard，tellsmethatmostoftheriggin’srottenandthemaintopmastain’tsound，byagooddeal。Theoldman’sputoffhavin’heroverhauledfortworeasons，onethatrepairscostmoney，andt’otherthatputtin’offisthemainsheetofhisgospel。Whenthere’snoraintheroofdon’tleakandlong’sitdon’tblowtoohard’mostanykindofgear’llhold。That’sphilosophy——cabbagephilosophy。“
EllerydecidedthatheshouldlikeCaptainZeb，althoughitwasevidentthattheoldwhalerhaddecidedopinionsofhisownwhichhedidnothesitatetoexpress。HejudgedthattheMayoswereoftheso-calledaristocracy，butundoubtedlyuniquespecimens。Hevisitedfourmorehouseholdsthatafternoon。ThelastcallwasatMrs。ThankfulPayne’s，andwhilethere，listeningtothewonderful“poem，“hesawMissVanHornepassthewindow，ashasalreadybeentold。HecamehometoaCapeCodsupperofscallopedclams，hotbiscuits，andbakedIndianpudding，andKeziahgreetedhimwithacheerysmilewhichmadehimfeelthatitWAShome。Hissummarydisposalofthe“chart“hadevidentlyraisedhiminhishousekeeper’sestimation。Shedidnotaskasinglequestionastowherehehadbeen。
NextdayhehadatasteofTrumet’srealaristocracy，thegenuinearticle。CaptainElkanahDanielsandhisdaughtermadetheirfirstformalcall。Thecaptainwasmajesticinhighhat，fur-collaredcape，tailedcoat，andcarryingagold-headedcane。MissAnnabelworehernewestgownandbonnetandrustledasshewalked。Theyenteredthesittingroomandtheladyglancedsuperciliouslyabouttheapartment。
“Hum——ha！“barkedCaptainElkanah。“Ahem！Mr。Ellery，Itrustyou’rebeingmadecomfortable。Theparishcommitteeare——hum——ah——
anxiousthatyoushouldbe。Yes？“
Theministersaidthathewasverycomfortableindeed。
“Itisn’twhatyou’vebeenusedto，weknow，“observedMissAnnabel。“Mr。Langley，ourformerpastor，wasasweetoldgentleman，buthewasold-fashionedandhistasteswerequeer，especiallyinart。Haveyounoticedthat’fruitpiece’inthediningroom？Isn’tittooridiculous？“
Elleryadmittedthatthefruitpiecewasratherfunny；butnodoubtithadbeenagiftandso——
“Yes，indeed。Iguessitwasapresent，fastenough。Nobodywouldbuysuchathing。Itseemsstrangetopaandmethat，althoughsomanyofourpeoplehavebeenabroad，theyhavesuchstrangeideasofart。DoyourememberthebeautifulmarblesinthepalacesatFlorence，Mr。Ellery？Ofcourseyou’veseenthem？“
Theministerwasobligedtoadmitthathehadneverbeenabroad。
“Oh，isthatso？I’vebeensomanytimeswithpathatitseemsalmostasifeverybodywasasfamiliarwithYurrupasIam。YourememberwhatIsaidaboutthemarbles，pa？“
Herparentnodded。
“Hum——ha！Oh，yes，yes，“hesaid。“ThatwaswhenIwasinthefruit-carryingtradeandmadeavoyagetoValenchy。“
“Valencia，pa，“correctedAnnabel。“AndValenciaisinSpain。“
“Iknowit。ButwewenttoLeghornafterwards。IsailedtoCronstadtforsomeyearsregular。CronstadtisinRooshy，Mr。
Ellery。“
“Russia，pa，“snappedhisdaughter。Thenshechangedthesubjecttochurchandparishaffairs。TheyspokeofthesewingcircleandthereadingsocietyandtheFriday-eveningmeetings。
“TheCome-Outersaresovexedwithus，“titteredMissAnnabel，“thattheywon’tevenholdprayermeetingonthesamenightasours。TheyhavetheirsonThursdaynightsandit’sasgoodasaplaytohearthemshoutandsingandcarryon。You’llenjoytheCome-Outers，Mr。Ellery。They’reaperfectdelight。“
AndastheyrosetogoCaptainElkanahasked：
“Isthereanythingyou’dlikedoneabouttheparsonage，Mr。Ellery？
Ifso，itshallbedoneimmejitly。Howareyousatisfiedwithyourhousekeeper？“
“Verywell，indeed，CaptainDaniels，“wasthepromptreply。
“She’sacharacter，isn’tshe？“giggledAnnabel。“ShewasbornhereinTrumet，butwentawaytoNewBedfordwhenshewasyoungandgrewupthere。HermaidennamewasHall，butwhileshewasawayshemarriedamannamedAnselCoffin。Theydidn’tlivetogetherverylongandweren’thappy，Iguess。Idon’tknowwhosefaultitwas，nobodyknowsmuchofanythingaboutit，forthat’stheonethingshewon’ttalkabout。Anyhow，theCoffinmanwaslosttosea，andafterawhileshecamebacktokeephouseforherbrotherSolomon。She’sanawfuloddstick，butshe’sagoodcook，I
believe；thoughI’mafraidyouwon’tgetthemealspeoplesuchasourselves，who’vebeensomuchinthecity，areusedto。“
Ellerythoughtofthemealsathiscityboardinghouseandshuddered。Hewasanorphanandhadboardedforyears。
Incidentally，hehadworkedhiswaythroughcollege。CaptainElkanahclearedhisthroat。
“Keziah，“hecommanded。“Hum——ha！Keziah，comeinhereaminute。“
Keziahcameinresponsetothecall，hersewinginherhand。Therenovationoftheparsonagehadsofarprogressedthatshecouldnowfindtimeforalittlesewing，afterthedinnerdishesweredone。
“Keziah，“saidthecaptainpompously，“weexpectyoutolookoutforMr。Elleryineveryrespect。Theparishcommitteeexpectsthat——yes。“
“I’lltry，“saidMrs。Coffinshortly。
“Yes。Well，that’sall。Youcango。Wemustbegoing，too，Mr。
Ellery。Pleaseconsiderourhouseatyourdisposalanytime。Beneighborly——hum——ha！——beneighborly。“
“Yes，“purredAnnabel。“DOcomeandseeusoften。CongenialsocietyisveryscarceinTrumet，formeespecially。Wecanreadtogether。AreyoufondofMoore，Mr。Ellery？Ijustdoteonhim。“
Thelast“hum——ha“waspartiallydrownedbytheclickofthegate。
Keziahclosedthedining-roomdoor。
“Mrs。Coffin，“saidtheminister，“Ishan’ttroubletheparishcommittee。Besureofthat。I’mperfectlysatisfied。“
Keziahsatdownintherockerandherneedlemovedverybrisklyforamoment。Thenshesaid，withoutlookingup：
“That’sgood。IownupIliketohearyousayit。AndIamgladtherearesomethingsIdolikeaboutthisnewplaceofmine。
Because——well，becausethere’slikelytobeothersthatIshan’tlikeatall。“
OnFridayeveningtheministerconductedhisfirstprayermeeting。
Beforeit，andafterwards，heheardagooddealconcerningtheCome-Outers。HelearnedthatCaptainEbenHammondhadpreachedagainsthiminthechapelonSunday。Mostofhisownparishionersseemedtothinkitagoodjoke。
“Stir’emup，Mr。Ellery，“counseledLaviniaPepper。“Stir’emup！
Don’tbeafraidtoansweremfromthepulpitandset’emwheretheybelong。Ignorant，bigotedthings！“
Othersgavesimilarcounsel。Theresultwasthattheyoungmanbecamestillmoreinterestedinthesepeoplewhoseemedtohatehimandallhestoodforsoprofoundly。Hewishedhemightheartheirsideofthecaseandjudgeitforhimself。ItmayaswellbeacknowledgednowthatJohnElleryhadahabitofwishingtojudgeforhimself。Thisisnotalwaysapolitichabitinacountryminister。
ThesunofthefollowingThursdaymorningrosebehindacurtainoffogasdenseasthatofthedayuponwhichElleryarrived。Aflatcalmintheforenoon，thewindchangedaboutthreeo’clockand，beginningwithasharpandsuddensquallfromthenorthwest，blewhardandsteady。Yetthefogstillcloakedeverythingandrefusedtobeblownaway。
“There’srainastern，“observedCaptainZeb，withtheairofauthoritywhichbelongstoseafaringmenwhenspeakingoftheweather。“We’llgetahard，drivingrainaforemornin’，yousee。
Then，ifshestillholdsfromthenorthwest’ard，it’llfairofffine。“
“Goin’outinthis，Mr。Ellery！“exclaimedKeziah，inamazement，astheministerputonhishatandcoataboutseventhatevening。
“Sakesalive！youwon’tbeabletoseethewaytothegate。It’sasdarkasanigger’spocketandthickerthanyoungonesinapoorman’sfamily，asmyfatherusedtosay。You’llbewetthrough。
WhereintheworldareyouboundforTHISnight？“
Theministerequivocated。Hesaidhehadbeeninthehousealldayandfeltlikeawalk。
“Well，takeanumbrella，then，“wasthehousekeeper’sadvice。
“You’llneeditbeforeyougetback，Ical’late。“
Itwasdarkenoughandthickenough，inallconscience。Themainroadwasablack，wetvoid，throughwhichgleamsfromlightedwindowswerebutvague，yellowblotches。Theumbrellawasusefulinthesamewaythatablindman’scaneisuseful，infeelingtheway。Thetwoorthreestragglerswhomettheministercarriedlanterns。OneofthesestragglerswasMr。Pepper。Kyanwasastonished。
“Well，Isnum！“criedKyan，raisingthelantern。“If’tain’tMr。
Ellery。Whereyouboundthiskindofnight？“
Beforetheministercouldanswer，astatelyfigureappearedandjoinedthepair。Lavinia，ofcourse。
“Well，Mr。Ellery，“shesaid。“Ain’tyoulost，outinthisfog？
Anybodysick？“
No，noonewassick。
“That’samercy。Goin’callin’，beyou？“
“No。“