well, I may be appointed to her position when she leaves. I
have a conditional promise already. If I am, why, then, you see, I shall
really be earning my own living; you will not have to give up your own
home and all your interests there to make me comfortable: you can--"

"Here! here!" Captain Elisha put in, desperately; "don't talk so
ridiculous, Caroline. I ain't givin' up anything. I never was more happy
than I've been right here with you this summer. I'm satisfied."

"I know, but I am not. And neither is Steve. He and I have planned it
all. His salary at first will be small, and so will mine. But together
we can earn enough to live somehow and, later on, when he earns more,
perhaps we may be able to repay a little of all that you have given us.
We shall try. _I_ shall insist upon it."

"Caroline Warren, is _that_ the reason you sent Jim away? Did you tell
him that? Did you tell him you wouldn't marry him on account of me?"

"No, of course I did not," indignantly. "I told him--I said I must not
think of marriage; it was impossible. And it is! You _know_ it is, Uncle
Elisha!"

"I don't know any such thing. If you want to make me happy, Caroline,
you couldn't find a better way than to be Jim Pearson's wife. And you
would be happy, too; you said so."

"But I am not thinking of happiness. It is my duty--to you and to my own
self-respect. And not only that, but to Steve. Someone must provide a
home for him. Neither he nor I will permit you to do it a day longer
than is necessary. I am his sister and I shall not leave him."

"But you won't have to leave him. Steve's future's all fixed. I've
provided for Steve."

"What do you mean?"

"What I say." The captain was very much excited and, for once,
completely off his guard. "I've had plans for Steve all along. He's
doin' fust-rate in that broker's office, learnin' the trade. Next summer
he'll have another whack at it and learn more. When he's out of college
I'm goin' to turn over your dad's seat on the Stock Exchange to him. Not
give it to him, you know--not right off--but let him try; and then, if
he makes a good fist at it, he'll have it permanent. Steve's got the
best chance in the world. He couldn't ask much better, seems to me. You
ain't got to fret yourself about Steve."

He paused, almost out of breath. He had been speaking rapidly so as to
prevent interruption. Caroline's astonishment was too great for words,
just then. Her uncle anxiously awaited her repl