The books, many of them,
were there, also. And the dining room, except for size, looked like
home. So did the bedrooms; and, in the kitchen, Annie grinned a welcome.
"But how could you?" asked Caroline. "How could you keep all these
things, Uncle Elisha? I thought, of course, they must all be sold. I
cried when they took them away that day when we were leaving to go to
the hotel. I was sure I should never see them again. And here they all
are! How could you do it?"
The captain's grin was as wide as Annie's. "Oh," he explained, "I
couldn't let 'em all go. Never intended to. That five thousand dollar
codder up there seemed like own folks, pretty nigh. I'd have kept
HIM, if we had to live in one room and a trunk. And we ain't got to
that--yet. I tell you, dearie, I thought they'd make you feel more to
home. And they do, don't they?"
The look she gave him was answer sufficient.
"But the creditors?" she asked. "That man who--they belong to him, don't
they? I supposed of course they must go with the rest."
Captain Elisha winked. "There's times," he answered, "when I believe in
cheatin' my creditors. This is one of 'em. Never you mind that feller
you mentioned. He's got enough, confound him! He didn't have the face to
ask for any more.
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