"Ready?" his sister looked at him, questioningly. "Ready for what?" she repeated, with sudden suspicion. "Steve, do you know what Mr. Sylvester wishes to see us about?"
Her brother colored and seemed a bit disconcerted. "How should I know?" he muttered.
"Is it something new about the estate or that man who owns it? You do know something! I can see it in your face. What is it?"
"Nothing. How should I know what it is?"
"But you do. I believe you do. Look at me! What does Mr. Sylvester want of us?"
The boy hesitated; then whirled and faced her. "See here, Caro," he said, "maybe I do know something--or I can guess. Now, whatever happens, you've got to be a sensible girl. Certain things have to be dealt with in a practical way, and we're practical people. Sentiment--and pride--and all that sort of stuff, are well enough, but business is business and an engagement is an engagement. Now it's right up to you and--"
"Steve, what are you talking about?"
"That's all right. I know what I'm talking about. Somebody in the family must use common sense, and when it comes to holding a person to a promise, then--Confound it, Sis, we can't starve, can we?"
"What do you mean?" She rose and advanced toward him. "What do you mean by a promise? What have you been doing?"
His confusion increased. He avoided her eyes and moved sullenly toward the other side of the table.
"I haven't done anything," he grumbled, "that is, I've done what any reasonable fellow would do. I'm not the only one who thinks.... Look here! We've got a guardian, haven't we?"
"A guardian! a _guardian_! Stephen Warren, have you been to him? Have you--Was _that_ where you were last night?"
"Well, I--"
"Answer me!"
"What if I have? Whom else am I to go to? Isn't he--"
"But why did you go to him? What did you say?"
"I said--I said--Never mind what I said. He agrees with me, I can tell you that. You'll thank your stars I did go, before very long. I.... S-sh! Here's Sylvester."
The door of the room opened. The person who entered, however, was not the lawyer, but the very man of whom they had been speaking, Captain Elisha himself. He closed the door behind him.
"Hello, Stevie," he said, with a nod to the boy. Then, turning to his niece, he stepped forward and held out his hand. "Caroline," he began, "I don't doubt you're some surprised to see me here; but I.... Why, what's the matter?"
The faces of the pair led him to ask the question. Stephen's was red and he looked embarrassed and guilty. Caroline's was white, and she glanced from her brother to her guardian and back again, with flashing eyes.
"What's the matter?" repeated the captain. "Steve," sharply, "have you been making a fool of yourself again? What is it?"
"Nothing," was the sulky answer; "nothing of consequence. Caro is--well, I happened to mention that I called on you last night and--and she doesn't seem to like it, that's all. As I told her, somebody in the family had to use common sense, and you were our guardian and naturally, under the circumstances.... Why, I'll leave it to anyone!" with a burst of righteous indignation. "You _are_ our guardian."
He proclaimed it as if he expected a denial. Captain Elisha frowned. "Humph!" he grunted. "That ain't exactly news, is it, Steve? Seems to me we've taken up that p'int afore; though, as I remember, you didn't used to be sot on all hands knowin' it," with dry sarcasm. "I don't need even your common sense to remind me of it just at this minute. Caroline, your brother did come to see me last night. I was glad he did."
She ignored him. "Steve," she demanded, still facing the young man, "was this, too, a part of your plan? Did you bring me here to meet--him?"
"No, I didn't. Sylvester was to come to see us. You know that; he telephoned. I didn't know--"
The captain interrupted. "There, there, son!" he exclaimed, "let me say a word. No, Caroline, Stevie didn't know I was to meet you here. But I thought it was necessary that I should. Set down, please. I know you must be worn out, poor girl."
"I don't wish to sit. I want to know what my brother called to see you about."
"Well, there was some matters he wanted to talk over."
"What were they? Concerning the estate?"
"Partly that."
"Partly? What else? Captain Warren, my brother has hinted--he has said--What does he mean by holding someone to a promise? Answer me truthfully."
"I shouldn't answer you any other way, Caroline. Steve seems to be worried about--now you mustn't mind my speakin' plain, Caroline; the time's come when I've got to--Steve seems to be worried about the young man you're engaged to. He seems to cal'late that Mr. Dunn may want to slip out of that engagement."
His niece looked at him. Then she turned to her brother. "You went to _him_ and.... Oh, how _could_ you!"
Stephen would not meet her gaze. "Well," he muttered rebelliously, "why wouldn't I? You know yourself that Mal hasn't been near you since it happened. If he wasn't after--if he was straight, he would have come, wouldn't he? Mind, I don't say he isn't--perhaps he doesn't know. But, at any rate, something must be done. We had to face possibilities, and you wouldn't listen to me. I tried--"
"Stop!" she cut him short, imperiously. "Don't make me hate you. And you," turning to her uncle, "did _you_ listen and believe such things? Did you encourage him to believe them? Oh, I know what you think of my friends! I heard it from your own lips. And I know why you think it. Because they know what you are; because they exposed you and--"
"There, there! Caroline, you needn't go on. I've heard your opinion of my character afore. Never mind me for the minute. And, if you'll remember, _I_ ain't said that I doubted your young man. You told me that you thought the world and all of him and that he did of you. That's enough--or ought to be. But your brother says you wrote him two days ago and he ain't been near you."
"I misdirected the letter. He didn't receive it."
"Um-hm. I see. That would explain."
"Of course it would. That _must_ be the reason."
"Yes, seem's if it must."
"It is. What right have you to doubt it? Oh, how can you think such things? Can you suppose the man I am to marry is so despicable--so _mean_ as to--as to--I'm ashamed to say it. Why do you presume that money has any part in our engagement? Such trouble as mine only makes it more binding. Do you suppose if _he_ were poor as--as I am, that I would desert _him_? You know I wouldn't. I should be glad--yes, almost happy, because then I could show him--could--"
Her voice failed her. She put her handkerchief to her eyes for an instant and then snatched it away and faced them, her head erect. The pride in her face was reflected in Captain Elisha's as he regarded her.
"No, no," he said gently, "I never supposed you'd act but in one way, Caroline. I knew _you_. And, as Steve'll tell you, I said to him almost the same words you've been sayin'. If Malcolm's what he'd ought to be, I said, he'll be glad of the chance to prove how much he cares for your sister. But Steve appeared to have some misgivin's, and so--"
He paused, turned toward the door, and seemed to be listening. Caroline flashed an indignant glance at her brother.
"And so?" she asked, scornfully.
"And so," continued the captain, with a slight change in his tone, "it seemed to me that his doubts ought to be settled. And," rising, as there came a tap at the door, "I cal'late they're goin' to be."
He