you away from Old Chester rather than have him bother you.” “Mary, you are just as foolish as[Page 47] his daughter-in-law,” said Mrs. North, impatiently. [Page 47] And, somehow, poor Mary North’s heart sank. Nor was she the only perturbed person in town that night. Mrs. Cyrus had a headache, so it was necessary for Cyrus to hold her hand and assure her that Willy King said a headache did not mean brain-fever. “Willy King doesn’t know everything. If he had headaches like mine, he wouldn’t be so sure. I am always worrying about things, and I believe my brain can’t stand it. And now I’ve got your father to worry about!” “Better try and sleep, Gussie. I’ll put some Kaliston on your head.” “Kaliston! Kaliston won’t keep me from worrying. Oh, listen to that harmonicon!” [Page 48]“Gussie, I’m sure he isn’t thinking of Mrs. North.” [Page 48] “Mrs. North is thinking of him, which is a great deal more dangerous. Cyrus, you must ask Dr. Lavendar to interfere.” As this was at least the twentieth assault upon poor Cyrus’s common-sense, the citadel trembled. “Do you wish me to go into brain-fever before your eyes, just from worry?” Gussie demanded. “You must go!” “Well, maybe, perhaps, to-morrow—” “To-night—to-night,” said Augusta, faintly. And Cyrus surrendered. “Look under the bed before you go,” Gussie murmured. Cyrus looked. “Nobody there,” he said, reassuringly; and went on tiptoe[Page 49] out of the darkened, cologne-scented room. But as he passed along the hall, and saw his father in his little cabin of a room, smoking placidly, and polishing his sextant with loving hands, Cyrus’s heart reproached him. [Page 49] “How’s her head, Cy?” the Captain called out.
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