id Major Hockin, in his strongest manner, the last time
he came to see me, "I stand to you in loco parentis. That means, with
the duties, relationships, responsibilities, and what not, of the
unfortunate--I should say rather of the beloved--parent deceased. I wish
to be more careful of you than of a daughter of my own--a great deal
more careful, ten times, Miss Wood; I may say a thousand times more
careful, because you have not had the discipline which a daughter of
mine would have enjoyed. And you are so impulsive when you take an
idea! You judge every body by your likings. That leads to error, error,
error."

"My name is not Miss Wood," I answered; "my name is 'Erema Castlewood.'
Whatever need may have been on board ship for nobody knowing who I am,
surely I may have my own name now."

When any body says "surely," at once up springs a question; nothing
being sure, and the word itself at heart quite interrogative. The Major
knew all those little things which manage women so manfully. So he took
me by the hand and led me to the light and looked at me.

I had not one atom of Russian twist or dyed China grass in my hair, nor
even the ubiquitous aid of horse and cow; neither in my face or figure
was I conscious of false presentment. The Major was welcome to lead me
to the light and to throw up all his spectacles and gaze with all his
eyes. My only vexation was with myself, because I could not keep the
weakness--which a stranger should not see--out of my eyes, upon sudden
remembrance who it was that used to have the right to do such things to
me. This it was, and nothing else, that made me drop my eyes, perhaps.

"There, there, my dear!" said Major Hockin, in a softer voice than
usual. "Pretty fit you are to combat with the world, and defy the world,
and brave the world, and abolish the world--or at least the world's
opinion! 'Bo to a goose,' you can say, my dear; but no 'bo' to a gander.
No, no; do quietly what I advise--by-the-bye, you have never asked my
advice."

I can not have been hypocritical, for of all things I detest that most;
but in good faith I said, being conquered by the Major's relaxation of
his eyes,

"Oh, why have you never offered it to me? You knew that I never could
ask for it."

For the moment he looked surprised, as if our ideas had gone crosswise;
and then he remembered many little symptoms of my faith in his opinions;
which was now growing inevitable, with his wife and daughters, and many
g