Why, it's six year since he--and now he's alive, and he wants--What SHALL I do ?" Captain Obed took a step forward.
"Now, Mrs.Barnes," he begged, "I wish you would--that is, you know if you feel like it I--well, here I am.

Can't I do SOMETHIN' ?" Thankful turned and looked at him.

She was torn between an intense desire to make a confidant of someone and her habitual tendency to keep her personal affairs to herself.

The desire overcame the habit.
"Cap'n Bangs," she said, suddenly, "I will tell you I've just got to tell somebody.

If he was just writin' to say he was all right and alive, I shouldn't.