"Well, there it is. As you will read it, you must. You'll be awfully disappointed, because there is not a word about you in it."
Then Ada read the letter. "He says he hopes we shall both come."
"Well, yes! Your existence is certainly implied in those words."
"He explains why he writes to you instead of me."
"Another actual reference to yourself, no doubt. But then he goes on to talk of my pluck."
"He says it's a little higher than mine," said Ada, who was determined to extract from the Captain's words as much good as was possible, and as little evil to herself.
"So it is; only a little higher pluck! Of course he means that I can't come near himself."
"You wouldn't pretend to?" asked Ada.
"What! to be shot at like him, and to like it. I don't know any girl that can come quite up to that. Only if one becomes quite cock-sure, as he is, that one won't be hit, I don't see the courage."
"Oh, I do!"