Mayo did not offer comment. He wanted to advise the skipper to keep
still on that subject, too.
"I don't say he ain't good enough for her. Maybe he is. But I 'ain't
been realizing that she has growed up. When I found she was being
courted it was like hitting a rock in a fairway. You are young, and you
are around consid'able and know the actions of young folks. What's your
advice?"
"I don't know anything about the circumstances, sir."
"But speaking generally," insisted Captain Candage. "I want to do what's
right. There ain't many I can bring myself to ask. I'm a poor old fool,
I'm afraid. Won't you kind of grab in on this, Captain Mayo? I do need a
little advice." His rough hands trembled on his knees.
"If the young man is worthy--is the right sort," returned Mayo, in
gentler tones, "I think you are making a great mistake by interfering."
"I'll go look that young fellow over--re-survey him, as ye might say,"
stated the skipper, after a moment's meditation.
"I don't know your daughter very well, sir, but I have much faith in her
judgment. If I were you I'd allow her to pick her own husband."
"Thanks for that advice. I know it comes from a man who has shown that
he knows exactly what to do in emergencies. I have changed my mind about
her being courted, sir."
"Honest love isn't a question of money, Captain Candage. Many good girls
are ruined by--" He was speaking bitterly and he checked himself. "Where
is Captain Sinnett going to set us ashore?"
"Maquoit. He is going to take his fish to the big market. But he said he
would set us ashore anywhere, and so I said Maquoit. I might as well be
there as anywhere till I know what I'm going to do."
"Same thing holds good for me, I suppose. I don't feel like going to the
city just yet."
Captain Sinnett came rolling into the alley, and when Mayo started to
thank him for the trouble he was taking he raised in genial protest a
hand which resembled in spread a split codfish.
"Trouble! It ain't trouble. Was going to call into Maquoit to ice up,
anyway. I know my manners even if them yachting fellows didn't."
Captain Candage preserved the demeanor of innocence under Mayo's
scrutiny.
"I've missed you off the fishing-grounds--didn't know you had gone on to
a yacht, sir," pursued Captain Sinnett. "Hope to see you back into the
fishing business again; that is, providing you don't go on one of
them beam trawlers that are hooking up the bottom of the Atlantic and
sp'iling the thing entire for us all."