n and Mr. Malcolm must think 'twas important, for I
understand they've been telephonin' and askin' for appointments for the
last two days. Why, yes! and they come way down here in all this storm
on purpose to talk it over with him. Am I wrong? Ain't that so, ma'am?"

It was so, and Mrs. Dunn could not well deny it. Therefore, she took
refuge in a contemptuous silence. The captain nodded.

"As to discussin' it here," he went on with bland innocence, "why, we're
all family folks, same as I said, and there ain't any secrets between us
on _that_ subject. So suppose we all listen while Mr. Sylvester tells
just what he'd have told you and Mr. Malcolm. It's pretty hard to hear;
but bad news is soon told. Heave ahead, Mr. Sylvester."

Mrs. Dunn made one more attempt to avoid the crisis she saw was
approaching.

"Surely, Caroline," she said testily, "you don't wish your private
affairs treated in this public manner. Come, let us go."

She laid a hand on the girl's arm. Captain Elisha quietly interposed.

"No, no," he said. "We'll all stay here. There's nothin' public about
it."

Caroline, crimson with mortification, protested indignantly.

"Mr. Sylvester," she said, "it is not necessary to--"

"Excuse me;" her uncle's tone was sharper and more stern; "I think it
is. Go on, Sylvester."

The lawyer looked far from comfortable, but he spoke at once and to the
point.

"I should have told you and your son just this, Mrs. Dunn," he said.
"I intimated it before, and Miss Warren had already written you the
essential facts. A new and unexpected development, the nature of which I
am not at liberty to disclose now or later, makes Abijah Warren's estate
absolutely bankrupt. Not only that, but many thousand dollars in debt.
His heirs are left penniless. That is the plain truth, I'm very sorry
to say. There is no hope of anything better. You'll forgive me, Miss
Warren, I hope, for putting it so bluntly; but I thought it best to
avoid every possible misunderstanding."

It was blunt, beyond doubt. Even Captain Elisha winced at the word
"penniless." Stephen muttered under his breath and turned his back.
Caroline, swaying, put a hand on the table to steady herself. The Dunns
looked at each other.

"Thank you, Mr. Sylvester," said the captain, quietly. "I'll see you
again in a few moments."

The lawyer bowed and left the room, evidently glad to escape. Captain
Elisha turned to Mrs. Dunn.

"And now, ma'am," he observed, "that par