when awakened by a
series of raps on his bedroom door.

"Ah! What? Well, what is it?" he demanded, testily opening his eyes.
"Edwards, is that you? What the devil do you mean by making such a row?"

The voice which answered was not the butler's, but Caroline's.

"Steve! Oh, Steve!" she cried. "Do get up and come out! Come, quick!"

"What's the matter?" inquired the young man, sitting up in bed. "Is the
house afire?"

"No, no! But do come! I want you. Something has happened."

"Happened? What is it?"

"I can't tell you here. Please dress and come to me as quick as you
can."

Stephen, wondering and somewhat alarmed, dressed with unusual
promptitude and obeyed. He found his sister standing by the library
window, a letter in her hand. She looked troubled and anxious.

"Well, Caro," observed the boy, "here I am. What in the world's up now?"

She turned.

"Oh, Steve!" she exclaimed, "he's gone!"

"Gone? Who?"

"Captain Warren. He's gone."

"Gone? Gone where? Caro, you don't mean he's--_dead_?"

"No, he's gone--gone and left us."

Her brother's expression changed to incredulous joy.

"What?" he shouted. "You mean he's quit? Cleared out? Left here for
good?"

"Yes."

"Hurrah! Excuse me while I gloat! Hurrah! We got it through his skull
at last! Is it possible? But--but hold on! Perhaps it's too good to be
true. Are you sure? How do you know?"

"He says so. See."

She handed him the letter. It was addressed to "My dear Caroline" and
in it Captain Elisha stated his intentions succinctly. After the plain
speaking of the previous evening he should not, of course, burden them
with his society any longer. He was leaving that morning, and, as soon
as he "located permanent moorings somewhere else" would notify his niece
and nephew of his whereabouts.

"For," he added, "as I told you, although I shall not impose
my company on you, I am your guardian same as ever. I will
see that your allowance comes to you regular, including
enough for all household bills and pay for the hired help and
so on. If you need any extras at any time let me know and, if
they seem to me right and proper, I will send money for them.
You will stay where you are, Caroline, and Stevie must go
back to college right away. Tell him I say so, and if he does
not I shall begin reducing his allowance according as I wrote
him. He will understand what I mean. I guess that is all
until I send you my