ul in
consequence. Naturally she turned for comfort to those who remained
faithful, the Dunns in particular. They were loyal to her. Therefore,
with the intensity of her nature, she became doubly loyal to them. The
rector of St. Denis dropped in frequently, and others occasionally, but
she was lonely. She craved the society of those nearer her own age.

Pearson's coming, then, was psychologically apt. When he made his next
call upon Captain Elisha, to find the latter out but his niece at home,
she welcomed him cordially and insisted upon his waiting until her
guardian returned. The conversation was, at first, embarrassing for the
ex-reporter; she spoke of her father, and Pearson--the memory of his
last interview with the latter fresh in his mind, and painfully aware
that she knew nothing of it--felt guilty and like a hypocrite. But soon
the subject changed, and when the captain entered the library he found
the pair laughing and chatting like old acquaintances, as, of course,
they were.

Captain Elisha, paying no attention to his friend's shakes of the head,
invited his niece to be present at the reading of the latest addition to
what he called "mine and Jim's record-breakin' sea yarn."

"It's really mine, you understand, Caroline," he observed, with a wink.
"I'm silent partner in the firm--if you can call the one that does all
the talkin' silent--and Jim don't do nothin' but make it up and write it
and get the profits. Course, you mustn't mention this to him, 'cause he
thinks he's the author, and 'twould hurt his feelin's."

"He's quite right," declared Pearson, emphatically. "If the thing is
ever finished and published he will deserve all the credit. His advice
had already remade it. This uncle of yours, Miss Warren," he added,
turning to her, "is like the admiral Kipling wrote about--he has 'lived
more stories' than ever I could invent."

The captain, fearful that his niece might take the statement seriously,
hastened to protest.

"He's just foolin', Caroline," he said. "All I've done is set and talk
and talk and talk. I've used up more of his time and the surroundin' air
than you'd believe was possible. When I get next to salt water, even in
print, it's time to muzzle me, same as a dog in July. The yarn is Jim's
altogether, and it's mighty interestin'--to me anyhow."

"I'm sure it will be to me, also," declared the young lady. "Captain
Warren has told me all about it, Mr. Pearson, and I'm very eager to hear
t