"'Bout the dowry." Obadiah harrumphed seriously, dipped his nose into his mug, gazed at the mug for some time, harrumphed again. "Surprised you didn't bring that up."
"I guess I'm surprised myself. Never even thought of it."
"Not like you, Captain."
"No, it ain't."
"Well," and he fetched out some papers, "I won't take advantage of ye. On the other hand, we've no need to haggle. You reckon these would be fair?"
He handed Adam the remaining shares of the schooner Goodwill to Men, and each was made out in Adam's name.
Adam gulped his flip, he was so touched, and he all but choked on it.
Through an open door he saw Deborah fussing in the kitchen. He started to get up.
"See here, can't I help you?"
Obadiah Selden waved him back.
"Sit down," Obadiah said. "You're a married man now."