"If you came here to insult me--" she began. He
interrupted her.
"No, no," he protested gently. "Insultin' you is the last thing I want
to do. But, as your father did put you in my charge, I want you to bear
with me while we talk this over together. Remember, Caroline, I ain't
bothered you a great deal lately. I shouldn't now if I hadn't thought
'twas necessary. So please don't get mad, but answer me this: Do you
care for this man you've promised to marry?"
This was a plain question. It should have been answered without the
slightest hesitation. Moreover, the girl had expected him to ask it.
Yet, for a moment, she did hesitate.
"I mean," continued Captain Elisha, "do you care for him ENOUGH?" Enough
to live with him all your life, and see him every day, and be to him
what a true wife ought to be? See him, not with his company manners on
or in his automobile, but at the breakfast table, and when he comes home
tired and cross, maybe. When you've got to be forbearin' and forgivin'
and--"
"He is one of my oldest and best friends--" she interrupted. Her uncle
went on without waiting for her to end the sentence.
"I know," he said. "One of the oldest, that's sure. But friendship,
'cordin' to my notion, is somethin' so small in comparison that it
hardly counts in the manifest.
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