do."

"That's nothing," he answered. "The girl has been a fool and still is; but
the point is this. While she was all for him, Bond felt the going good;
but now, along of your high-minded action and the way you've took it, and
the way he's took it, and what I've said, she's in two minds yet. Love him
she did and love him she do and don't deny it; but she begins to see, as
well she may, that for her lifelong salvation, if she must wed, she'd have
a safer and a better time with you than Bond."

Well, I was a good deal surprised to hear Joshua talk so reasonable, and
what he said next astonished me still more.

"That's so far to the good," I answered, "for I care a lot too much for
the maiden to stand between her and her real welfare. But, apart from her,
I've always suspicioned Tom Bond was too good for this world till this
happened. Men ain't so perfect as him, and when I heard he'd got round
Jenny, I began to fear there was more to the young man than meets the
eye."

"A plucky sight more," declared Owlet. "You can leave him for a minute.
I'll come to him--the wicked rascal. But first I want for you to know that
I'd a darned sight sooner see my daughter married to you than him, or any
other man; and though I hate like hell for her to leave me, I ordain,
since it's got to be, that you have her and none other. And none else ever
shall."

I couldn't believe my ears, of course, but he was terribly in earnest. He
tore at his beard as his manner was, and his eyes flashed, and I couldn't
tell for my life whether he was speaking truth or was lying to me.

"So much for that then," I said, "and I'm very glad to hear you take that
view, for it was time you saw sense in the matter. But I don't wed Jenny
if she don't want to wed me--not to please you, or nobody. And that brings
us to Tom Bond. At this moment I'm in a difficulty, because seeking, where
I counted to learn more about him, I've been headed off. His credentials
was all they should be, and Sir Walter didn't trouble to verify 'em; and
asking him for 'em a few days since, I was a good bit put about to hear
that master couldn't find 'em. But he dared me to say there was anything
wrong with Bond, because he thinks the world of the man and wouldn't have
him away on no account whatever."

"I'll lay my life the blackguard stole those credentials poking about
where he didn't ought," said Joshua; but I answered 'twas little likely.

"The master be almost sure to have destro