sn't know it."

"I'm not so sure that it may not be important. And, if you recall, on
that day when we first met him at Caroline's, she seemed hurt because he
had not visited them since her father died. Perhaps there _was_ a
reason. At any rate, I should look into the matter."

"All right, Mater, just as you say. Really you ought to join a Don't
Worry Club."

"One member in the family is quite sufficient. And I expect you to
devote yourself to Caroline from now on. That girl is lonely, and
when you get the combination of a lonely romantic young girl and a
good-looking and interesting young fellow, even though he is as poor
as a church mouse, _anything_ may happen. Add to that the influence of
an unpractical but sharp old Yankee relative and guardian--then the
situation is positively dangerous."

CHAPTER XIII

An important event was about to take place. At least, it seemed
important to Captain Elisha, although the person most intimately
concerned appeared to have forgotten it entirely. He ventured to remind
her of it.

"Caroline," he said, "Sunday is your birthday, ain't it?"

His niece looked at him in surprise. "Yes," she answered, "it is. How
did you know?"

"Why, I remembered, that's all. Graves, the lawyer man, told me how
old you and Stevie were, fust time I met him. And his partner, Mr.
Sylvester, gave me the date one day when he was goin' over your pa's
will. You'll be twenty years old Sunday, won't you?"

"Yes."

It was late in the afternoon, and she had been out since ten o'clock
shopping with Mrs. Dunn, lunching downtown with the latter and Malcolm,
and motoring for an hour or two. The weather for the season was mild and
sunny, and the crisp air had brightened her cheeks, her eyes sparkled,
her fur coat and cap were very becoming, and Captain Elisha inspected
her admiringly before making another remark.

"My! My!" he exclaimed, after an instant's pause. "Twenty years old!
Think of it! 'Bije's girl's a young woman now, ain't she? I cal'late he
was proud of you, too. He ought to have been. I presume likely _he_
didn't forget your birthday."

He rose to help her with the heavy coat. As he lifted it from her
shoulders, he bent forward and caught a glimpse of her face.

"There! there!" he said, hastily. "Don't feel bad, dearie. I didn't mean
to hurt your feelin's. Excuse me; I was thinkin' out loud, sort of."

She did not answer at once, but turned away to remove her cap. Then she
answere