"I told you to be
sensible. Captain Warren's dead right."
"Stevie, you stay out of this." There was no misunderstanding the
captain's tone. "When I want your opinion I'll ask for it. And,
Caroline, I want you to stay out, too. This is my trick at the wheel.
Mrs. Dunn, what d'you say? Never mind the young folks. You and me know
that marriage is business, same as everything else. How soon can we have
the weddin'?"
Mrs. Dunn had, apparently, nothing to say--to him. She addressed her
next remark to Caroline.
"My dear," she said, in great agitation, "this is really too dreadful.
This--er--guardian of yours appears to think he is in some barbarous
country--ordering the savages about. Come! Malcolm, take her away."
"No," Captain Elisha stepped in front of the door. "She ain't goin'; and
I'd rather you wouldn't go yet. Let's settle this up now. I ain't askin'
anything unreasonable. Caroline's under my charge, and I've got to plan
for her. Your boy's just crazy to marry her; he's been beggin' for her
to name the day. Let's name it. It needn't be to-morrow. I cal'late
you'll want to get out invitations and such. It needn't be next week.
But just say about when it can be; then I'll know how to plan. That
ain't much to ask, sartin."
Much or little, neither Mrs.
Pages:
351
352
353
354
355
356
357
358
359
360
361
362
363
364
365
366
367
368
369
370
371
372
373
374
375