“That’s settled then,” replied Mr. Stewart going to the bell and touching it. “I’ll fix you $750 a year so tight that you can’t give it away or lend it to anybody except quarterly, and I guess that’ll see you through in Fairhaven without making you feel too wealthy. Now about the other matter. Here I’m in your hands and I feel that there’s nothing I wouldn’t do to straighten this out. If you can help me to a successful issue I’ll feel eternally grateful.”
“Stewart,” solemnly responded Captain Taber, “I can assure you that I’ve often felt that I could pray that your daughter and Christmas would come together. I’ve watched them together, and I’ve watched him, and I’ve watched you, little as you think it, and I’ve just wore my head thin scheming. But I felt that you wouldn’t have it at any price. I wasn’t quite sure of Miss Stewart, and as for him, I often felt that I could shake him for not having more get up and git. But oh, Stewart, we need to reconsider our position when we think of him, so brave, kind, gentle and loving—I swear I haven’t yet been able to lay my finger on a sore spot in him yet, except maybe his temper, which has boiled over twice and made things hum. Now, honest injun, I don’t believe he loves your girl a bit more than he does me, and I feel sure that he loves her in the same way. That’s no good to her. She wants a husband as well as a friend. I may be wrong. Anyhow, I’ll know soon, and as soon as I know you shall. I cannot promise more honestly, because I have no more influence over him than the wind, nor I believe has anybody in this world unless it is some of those folks of his in Norfolk Island.”
Just then there came a tap at the door, and in walked C. B., his face bright and keen, saying—
“All is ready now, Captain Taber, and we’ve nice time to get to the dépôt I’m told.”
Mr. Stewart looked up quietly and said—
“Well, you haven’t left us much time to bid you good-bye, Christmas!”
A look of blank amazement stole over C. B.’s face as he said slowly—
“I had no idea that we were separating, it never occurred to me. Please forgive me,” and he looked so distressed that Mr. Stewart said kindly: “Don’t worry, of course you didn’t know. Captain Taber didn’t know until I told him just now. But it’s a fact all the same, and anyhow long farewells are bad for anybody. Mary will just come in and say good-bye, and we shall end a very pleasant trip in the usual way.”