"Captain Warren," she said, "I thought possibly you might wish to talk
business with my brother and me. We--we understand that you have come
on business connected with father's will. It seems to me that the sooner
we--we--"

"Get it over the better, hey? Well, maybe you're right. It's an odd
business for an old salt like me to be mixed up in, that's a fact. If it
hadn't been so odd, if I hadn't thought there must be some reason, some
partic'lar reason, I--well, I guess I'd have stayed to home where I
belong. You mustn't think," he added, seriously, "that I don't realize
I'm as out of place amongst you and your rich friends as a live fish in
a barrel of sawdust. That's all right; you needn't trouble to say no.
But you must understand that, realizin' it, I'm not exactly imposin'
myself on you for pleasure or--well, from choice. I'm so built that I
can't shirk when my conscience tells me I shouldn't, that's all. I'm
kind of tired to-night, and I guess you are. To-morrow mornin', if it's
agreeable to all hands, we will have a little business talk. I'll have
to see Lawyer Graves pretty soon, and have a gen'ral look at your pa's
affairs. Then, if everything is all right and I feel my duty's done,
I'll probably go back to the Cape and leave you to him, or somebody else
able to look out for you. Until then I'm afraid," with a smile which had
a trace of bitterness in it; "I'm afraid you'll have to do the best you
can with me. I'll try to be no more of a nuisance than I can help. Good
night."

When the two young people were left alone, Caroline turned to her
brother.

"Steve," she said, "I'm afraid you were a little rude. I'm afraid you