"It seems impossible."
"Nothing is impossible," observed his mother. Then, with a shudder, "You
never met your father's relatives. I have."
When Captain Elisha emerged from his room, after a wash and a change
of linen, he found the library untenanted. He strolled about, his hands
behind him, inspecting the pictures with critical interest. Caroline,
dressed for dinner, found him thus engaged. He turned at the sound of
her step.
"Why, hello!" he cried, with hearty enthusiasm. "All rigged up for
inspection, ain't you?"
"Inspection?"
"Oh, that's just sailor's lingo. Means you've got your Sunday uniform
on, that's all. My! my! how nice you look! But ain't black pretty old
for such a young girl?"
"I am in mourning," replied his niece, coldly.
"There! there! of course you are. Tut! tut! How could I forget it. You
see, I've been so many years feelin' as if I didn't have a brother that
I've sort of got used to his bein' gone."
"I have not." Her eyes filled as she said it. The captain was greatly
moved.
"I'm a blunderin' old fool, my dear," he said. "I beg your pardon. Do
try to forgive me, won't you? And, perhaps--perhaps I can make up your
loss to you, just a little mite. I'd like to. I'll try to, if--"
He laid a hand on her shoulder.
Pages:
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78