Page:Left to Themselves (1891).djvu/245

 safe from the chance of Jennison's coming to the farm this week; but I aint fully sure."

"Well, if he does we can hide you both snug as a bug in a rug," declared Mrs. Loreta, stoutly.

"Precisely," continued Obed. "Anyway, inside of forty-eight hours you'll be in Knoxport an' getting word to your friends—an' from 'em, I hope. Make your mind easy."

"Yes, we'll help you all we can to straighten every thing out right," said his wife. "Nothing will happen to you here but we'll know about it an' be ready to go through it with you and that dear boy there that's left in your charge. The good Lord bless him and you!"

The conversation ended. Philip went to bed, but not to sleep for a good hour or so. He speculated and planned. The Probascos talked together in their room assiduously enough.

The next day the sky was, to say the least, threatening, and the sea terrifically rough for small craft. Probasco's rheumatism was worse—one shoulder quite crippled. Philip was not used to navigation of the kind called for. Another day's delay seemed unwise and unendurable, though he gave up every thing at last.