address and any other sailing orders that
seem necessary to me then. And, Caroline, I want you and
Stevie to feel that I am your anchor to windward, and when
you get in a tight place, if you ever do, you can depend on
me. Last night's talk has no bearing on that whatever.
Good-by, then, until my next.

"ELISHA WARREN."

Stephen read this screed to the end, then crumpled it in his fist and
threw it angrily on the floor.

"The nerve!" he exclaimed. "He seems to think I'm a sailor on one of his
ships, to be ordered around as he sees fit. I'll go back to college when
I'm good and ready--not before."

Caroline shook her head. "Oh, no!" she said. "You must go to-day. He's
right, Steve; it's the thing for you to do. He and I were agreed as to
that. And you wouldn't stay and make it harder for me, would you, dear?"

He growled a reluctant assent. "I suppose I shall have to go," he said,
sullenly. "My allowance is too beastly small to have him cutting it; and
the old shark would do that very thing; he'd take delight in doing it,
confound him! Well, he knows what we think of him, that's some comfort."

She did not answer. He looked at her curiously.

"Why, hang it all, Caro!" he exclaimed in disgust; "what ails you?
Blessed if I sha'n't begin to believe you're sorry he's gone. You act as
if you were."

"No, I'm not. Of course I'm not. I'm--I'm glad. He couldn't stay, of
course. But I'm afraid--I can't help feeling that you and I were too
harsh last night. We said things--dreadful things--"

"Be hanged! We didn't say half enough. Oh, don't be a fool, Caro! I was
just beginning to be proud of your grit. And now you want to take it all
back. Honestly, girls are the limit! You don't know your own minds for
twelve consecutive hours. Answer me now! _Are_ you sorry he's gone?"

"No. No, I'm not, really. But I--I feel somehow as if--as if everything
was on my shoulders. You're going away, and he's gone, and--What is it,
Edwards?"

The butler entered, with a small parcel in his hand.

"I beg your pardon, Miss Caroline," he said. "I should have given you
this last evening. It was by your place at the table. I think Captain
Warren put it there, miss."

Caroline took the parcel and looked at it wonderingly.

"For me?" she repeated.

"Yes, Miss Caroline. It is marked with your name. And breakfast is
served, when you and Mr. Stephen are ready."

He bowed and retired. The girl sat turning t