The boy's face clouded over. "I don't know. Sometimes I seem to see her very plainly, and sometimes again I don't seem to see her at all when I try to. Was mother very beautiful?"
"Very beautiful, to me," assented the shipowner.
"I think I should have loved her very much."
"How would you like to have a new mother?"
Olaf thought this over in silence for some time.
"It depends," he ventured at length.
"Depends on what?"
"I don't know. I must see her. Then I could tell you."
"You care for the idea?"
"I must see her first."