"If you please, Cap'n Hocken, are you very fond indeed of Mrs Bosenna?"
Cai turned about to the hearth and stooped for the tongs, as if to place a lump of coal on the fire. Then he seemed to realise that, the season being early summer, there was no fire and the tongs and coal-scuttle had been removed. He straightened himself up slowly and faced about again, very red and confused (but the flush may have come from his stooping).
"So we're not inquisitive, aren't we? Well, missy, appearances are deceptive sometimes—that's all I say."
"But I'm not askin' out o' curiosity—really an' truly. And please don't turn me out an' warn me to mind my own business; for it is my business, in a way. . . . I'll explain it all, later on, if only you'll tell."
"I admire Mrs Bosenna very much indeed," said Cai slowly. "There now,— will that satisfy you?"
Fancy shook her head. "Not quite," she confessed, "I want to know, Are you so fond of her that you wouldn' give her up, not on any account?"
Cai flushed again. "Well, missy, since you put it that way, we'll make it so."
Still the answer did not appear to satisfy the child. She fidgetted in her chair a little, but without offering to go.
"Not for no one in the wide world?" she asked at length.
"Why, see here,"—Cai met her gaze shyly—"isn't that the right way to feel when you want to make a woman your wife?"