I'm awful sorry.
I'd begun to hope that... However, we'll change the subject. Or we won't
talk at all, if you'd rather not."
Another pause. Then she laid her hand on his.
"Uncle," she said, "you know I always want to talk to you. And, as for
the right to ask, you have the right to ask anything of me at any time.
And I should have told you, of my own accord, by and by. Mr. Pearson and
I have not quarreled; but I think--I think it best that I should not see
him again."
"You do? Not see him--any more--at all? Why, Caroline!"
"Not for a long, long time, at least. It would only make it harder--for
him; and it's of no use."
Captain Elisha sighed again. "I guess I understand, Caroline. I presume
likely I do. He--he asked somethin' of you--and you couldn't say yes to
him. That was it, I suppose. Needn't tell me unless you really want to,
you understand," he added, hastily.
"But I do. I ought to tell you. I should have told you before, and
perhaps, if I had, he would not have... Uncle Elisha, Mr. Pearson asked
me to be his wife."
The captain gave no evidence of surprise.
"Yes," he replied, gravely, "I judged that was it. And you told him you
couldn't, I suppose. Well, dearie, that's a question nobody ought to
answer but the one.
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