I don't know.
We're afloat--that much we are sure of--but the port we left and the
harbor we're bound for, they're always out of sight in the fog astern
and ahead. I know lots of folks who claim to see the harbor, and see it
plain; but they don't exactly agree as to what they see. As for me, I've
come to the conclusion that we must steer as straight a course as we
can, and when we meet a craft in distress, why, do our best to help
her. The rest of it I guess we must leave to the Owner, to the One that
launched us. I.... Good land!" he exclaimed, coming out of his
meditation with a start, "I'm preachin' a sermon ahead of time. And
the Commodore's goin' to sleep over it, I do believe."

The butler, who had been staring vacantly out of the window during the
captain's soliloquy, straightened at the sound of his nickname, and
asked hastily, "Yes, sir? What will you have, sir?" Captain Elisha
laughed in huge enjoyment, and his niece joined him.

"Well," she said, "will you go with me?"

"I'd like to fust-rate--if you won't be too much ashamed of me."

"Then it's settled, isn't it? The service begins at a quarter to eleven.
We will leave here at half-past ten."

The captain shaved with extra care that morning, donned spotless linen,
including a "stand-up" collar--which he detested--brushed his frock-coat
and his hair with great particularity, and gave Edwards his shoes to
clean. He would have shined them himself, as he always did at home, but
on a former occasion when he asked for the "blackin' kit," the
butler's shocked and pained expression led to questions and consequent
enlightenment.

He was ready by a quarter after ten, but when his niece knocked at his
door she bore a message which surprised and troubled him.

"Mrs. Dunn called," she said, "to ask me to go to church with her. I
told her I had invited you to accompany me. Would you mind if she joined
us?"

Her guardian hesitated. "I guess," he answered, slowly, "it ain't so
much a question of my mindin' her as she mindin' me. Does _she_ want me
to go along?"

"She said she should be delighted."

"I want to know! Now, Caroline, don't you think I'd be sort of in the
way? Don't you believe she'd manage to live down her disappointment if
I didn't tag on? You mustn't feel that you've got to be bothered with me
because you suggested my goin', you know."

"If I had considered it a bother I should not have invited you. If you
don't wish Mrs. Dunn's company, then y