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Captain Bird heaved a long sigh and rose to his feet, whereupon the other mariners rose to their feet “Madam,” said Captain Bird, “what’s to pay for the supper and–the rest of the entertainment?”

“The supper is twenty-five cents apiece,” said the Widow Ducket, “and everything else is free, gratis.”

Whereupon each mariner put his hand into his trousers pocket, pulled out a silver quarter, and handed it to the widow. Then, with four solemn “Good evenin’s,” they went out to the front gate.

“Cast off, Captain Jenkinson,” said Captain Bird, “and you, Captain Burress, clew him up for’ard. You can stay in the bow, Captain Sanderson, and take the sheet-lines. I’ll go aft.”

All being ready, each of the elderly mariners clambered over a wheel, and having seated themselves, they prepared to lay their course for Cuppertown.

But just as they were about to start, Captain Jenkinson asked that they lay to a bit, and clambering down over his wheel, he reentered the front gate and went up to the door of the house, where the widow and Dorcas were still standing.

“Madam,” said he, “I just came back to ask what became of your brother-in-law through his wife’s not bein’ able to put no light in the window?”

“The storm drove him ashore on our side of the bay,” said she, “and the next mornin’ he came up to our house, and I told him all that had happened to me. And when he took our boat and went home and told that story to his wife, she just packed up and went out West, and got divorced from him. And it served him right, too.”

“Thank you, ma’am,” said Captain Jenkinson, and going out of the gate, he clambered up over the wheel, and the wagon cleared for Cuppertown.

When the elderly mariners were gone, the Widow Ducket, still standing in the door, turned to Dorcas.

“Think of it!” she said.”To tell all that to me, in my own house!And after I had opened my one jar of brandied peaches, that I’d been keepin’ for special company!”

“In your own house!” ejaculated Dorcas.”And not one of them brandied peaches left!”

The widow jingled the four quarters in her hand before she slipped them into her pocket.

“Anyway, Dorcas,” she remarked, “I think we can now say we are square with all the world, and so let’s go in and wash the dishes.”

“Yes,” said Dorcas, “we’re square.”