Stowell's uneasiness increased. "What do you intend to do?"
"Go down just the same. I've been telegraphing saying I'm coming. That's why I'm late getting down to the boat."
"And if she persists?"
"Give her up and clear out, I suppose."
"You mean leave the island?"
"Why shouldn't I? I've only been a stick-in-the-mud here and couldn't do much worse anywhere else, could I? Besides" (his voice was breaking) "there's my father. You remember what he said. I couldn't face it out if the girl threw me over."
"She's not well, is she?"
"Not very."
"Nothing serious?"
"No—nothing, the Miss Browns think, that we might not expect after such a change in her life and condition."