Her fiance waved a rea.s.suring hand. "It--it"s all right," he gasped.
"I was just laughing at . . . Oh," pointing an unsteady finger at the lightkeeper, "ask him; he knows."
"Ask him?" repeated the bewildered young lady. "Why, Mr. Atkins--Bascom, I mean--what. . . ."
And then Seth began to laugh. Leaning against the doorpost, he at first chuckled and then roared.
"Seth!" cried his wife. "Seth, you old idiot! Why, I never see two such loons in my life! Seth, answer me! What are you two laughin" at?"
Seth Atkins Bascom wiped the tears from his eyes. "I cal"late," he panted, "I rather guess--Ho, ho!--I rather guess we"re both laughin" at woman-haters."