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Grace assured her questioner that she could attend to the house and the meals during the following day, longer if the troublesome "spine" needed company. Mrs. Poundberry sighed, groaned, and shook her head. "I shan't stay no longer," she affirmed; "not if Betsy's all over spines, like one of them Mexican cactus plants. No, marm, my place is right here and I know it.
Poundberry and Captain Nat were still at the old home and no one save themselves knew what their plans might be. Yet, oddly enough, Ellery was the first outsider to learn these plans and that from Nat himself. He met the captain at the corner of the "Turnoff" one day late in August. He tried to make his bow seem cordial, but was painfully aware that it was not.
Well, she'll be married soon, just as soon as Cap'n Nat gets back. They perfectly worship each other, those two. They say she writes him the longest letters. Hannah Poundberry told me. Hannah's a queer creature and common, but devoted to the Hammonds, Mr. Ellery. However, you're not interested in Come-Outers, are you? Ha, ha!"
The squire tried to tell her what a no-good Ase was, but she froze him quicker'n Where you going, Cap'n Benije?" "I'm going down to that poorhouse," hollers Poundberry. "I'll find out the rights and wrongs of this thing mighty quick." We all said we'd go with him, and we went, six in one carryall. As we hove in sight of the poorhouse a buggy drove away from it, going in t'other direction.
At that meeting a half dozen of Orham's best young fellows had expressed their desire to fight for Uncle Sam. The Orham band minus its first cornet, who was himself one of the volunteers had serenaded them at the railway station and the Congregational minister and Lawyer Poundberry of the Board of Selectmen had made speeches.
There was much wonderment at the delayed marriage, but the general verdict was that Captain Eben's recent death and the proper respect due to it furnished sufficient excuse. Hannah Poundberry, delighted at being so close to the center of interest, talked and talked, and thus Grace was spared the interviews which would have been a trouble to her.
"And, oh, Cap'n Poundberry!" cried Debby, looking as if this was the most wonderful part of it "oh, Cap'n Poundberry!" she says, "we've known for a long time that some man an uncommon kind of man was coming to offer me a home some day, but even Asaph didn't know 'twas himself; did you, Asaph?"
Now you go and lay down somewheres and I'll get my things off and see what there is to do. Some good strong tea might be good for all hands, I guess likely. Where's Hannah Poundberry?" "She's gone to her cousin's to stay all night. I suppose I ought to send for her, but I " "No, no, you hadn't. Might's well send for a poll parrot, the critter would be just as much good and talk less.
"I just met Squire Foster," he says, "and the squire tells me that that Lamont girl come into his office with the bill of sale for the property you sold her and made him deed it right over to Ase Blueworthy, as a present from her." "WHAT?" says all hands, Poundberry loudest of all. "That's right," said Darius.
"I guess he would. We shall know very soon. I ran away and left him with Mrs. Poundberry, our housekeeper. He doesn't know where I am. I wonder he hasn't turned back to look for me before this. We shall probably meet him at any moment." She seemed to enjoy the prospect of the meeting. Ellery wondered what on earth he should say to Captain Hammond that is, provided he was allowed to say anything.
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