said, "you know I always want to talk to you. And, as for
the right to ask, you have the right to ask anything of me at any time.
And I should have told you, of my own accord, by and by. Mr. Pearson and
I have not quarreled; but I think--I think it best that I should not see
him again."

"You do? Not see him--any more--at all? Why, Caroline!"

"Not for a long, long time, at least. It would only make it harder--for
him; and it's of no use."

Captain Elisha sighed again. "I guess I understand, Caroline. I presume
likely I do. He--he asked somethin' of you--and you couldn't say yes to
him. That was it, I suppose. Needn't tell me unless you really want to,
you understand," he added, hastily.

"But I do. I ought to tell you. I should have told you before, and
perhaps, if I had, he would not have ... Uncle Elisha, Mr. Pearson asked
me to be his wife."

The captain gave no evidence of surprise.

"Yes," he replied, gravely, "I judged that was it. And you told him you
couldn't, I suppose. Well, dearie, that's a question nobody ought to
answer but the one. She's the only one that knows what that answer
should be, and, when other folks interfere and try to influence, it
generally means trouble. I'm kind of disappointed; I'll own up to that.
I think Jim is a fine, honest, able young man, and he'd make a good
husband, I'm sure. And, so far as his business, or profession, or
whatever you call it, goes, he's doin' pretty well and sartin to do
better. Of course, 'twa'n't that that kept you from--"

"Uncle Elisha! Am _I_ so rich that I should--"

"There! there, my girl! I know 'twa'n't that, of course. I was only
thinkin' out loud, that's all--tryin' to find reasons. You didn't care
for him enough, I suppose. Caroline, you don't care for anybody else, do
you? You don't still care for that other feller, that--"

"Uncle!" she sprang up, hurt and indignant. "How can you?" she cried.
"How could you ask that? What must you think of me?"

"Please, Caroline," he protested; "please don't. I beg your pardon. I
was a fool! I knew better. Don't go. Tell me the real reason. Sit down
again and let's talk this out. Do sit down! that's it. Now tell me; was
it that you couldn't care for Jim enough?"

She hesitated.

"Was it?" he repeated.

"I--I like Mr. Pearson very much. I respect and admire him."

"But you don't love him. I see. Well," sadly, "there's another one of my
dreams gone to smash. However, you did just right, dearie. Feel