he door close behind Captain Crowe; then she smoothed
down her nice white apron abstractedly, and glanced out of the window
to see if he were out of sight, but she could not catch a glimpse of
the captain's broad, expressive back, to judge his feelings or the
manner in which he was taking his rebuff. She felt unexpectedly sorry
for him; it was lonely in his handsome, large house, where his two
sisters made so poor a home for him and such a good one for
themselves.

It was almost dark now, and the shut windows of the room made the
afternoon seem more gloomy; the days were fast growing shorter. After
her successful conduct of the affair with her two lovers, she felt a
little lonely and uncertain. Although she had learned to dislike
Captain Shaw, and had dismissed him with no small pleasure, with
Captain Crowe it was different; he was a good, kind-hearted man, and
she had made a great effort to save his feelings.

Just then her quick ears caught the sound of a footstep in the street.
She listened intently for a moment, and then stood close to the
window, looking out. The rain was falling steadily; it streaked the
square panes in long lines, so that Mrs. Lunn's heart recognized the
approach of a friend more easily than her eyes. But the expected
umbrella tipped away on the wind as it passed, so that she could see
the large ivory handle. She lifted the sash in an instant. "I wish
you'd step in just one minute, sir, if it's perfectly convenient," she
said appealingly, and then felt herself grow very red in the face as
she crossed the room and opened the door.

"I'm 'most too wet to come into a lady's parlor," apologized Captain
Witherspoon gallantly. "Command me, Mrs. Lunn, if there's any way I
can serve you. I expect to go down street again this evening."

"Do you think you'd better, sir?" gently inquired Mrs. Lunn. There was
something beautiful about the captain's rosy cheeks and his curly gray
hair. His kind blue eyes beamed at her like a boy's.

"I have had some business fall to me, you see, Cap'n," she continued,
blushing still more; "and I feel as if I'd better ask your advice. My
late cousin, Mrs. Hicks, has left me all her property. The amount is
very unexpected; I never looked for more than a small remembrance.
There will have to be steps taken."

"Command me, madam," said the captain again, to whom it never for one
moment occurred that Mrs. Lunn was better skilled in business matters
than himself. He instantl