It may be that he, too, was disappointed.

What he said was: "You see, ma'am, I've been anchorin' along with Hannah and Kenelm now for quite a spell.

They took me in when 'twas a choice between messin' at the Holt place or eatin' grass in the back yard like King Nebuchadnezzar.

Hannah don't keep a reg'lar boardin'-house but she does sort of count on me as one of the family, and I don't feel 'twould be right to shift--not yet, anyhow.

But maybe I can pilot other craft into High Cliff Harbor, even if I don't call it my own home port." That first dinner was a bountiful meal.