"But I don't know now," he continued, "whether I went
overboard or whether I am on deck. Can you tell me, Mrs.
Trimmer?"

She looked up at him. Her eyes were very soft, and her lips
trembled just a little. "It seems to me, captain," she said,
"that you are on deck--if you want to be."

The captain stepped closer to her. "Mrs. Trimmer," said he,
"is that brother of yours comin' back?"

"Yes," she answered, surprised at the sudden question. "He's
just gone up to the store to buy a shirt and some things. He got
himself splashed trying to push his boat off last night."

"Well, then," said Captain Eli, "would you mind tellin' him
when he comes back that you and me's engaged to be married? I
don't know whether I've made a mistake in the lights or not, but
would you mind tellin' him that?"

Mrs. Trimmer looked at him. Her eyes were not so soft as
they had been, but they were brighter. "I'd rather you'd tell
him that yourself," said she.

The little girl sat on the floor near the Christmas tree,
just finishing a large piece of red-and-white candy which she had
taken out of her stocking. "People do hug a lot at Christmas-
time," said she to herself. Then she drew out a piece of blue-
and-white candy and began on that.