ow. Do I understand that you cal'late to break the
engagement because my niece has lost her money? Is that it?"

Mrs. Dunn realized that the inevitable was upon them. After all, it
might as well be faced now as later.

"This is ridiculous," she proclaimed. "Every sane person knows--though
_barbarians_ may not--" with a venomous glare at the captain--"that,
in engagements of the kind in which my son shared, a certain amount
of--er--financial--er--that is, the bride is supposed to have some
money. It is expected. Of course it is! Love in a cottage is--well--a
bit _passe_. My son and I pity your niece from the bottom of our hearts,
but--there! under the circumstances the whole affair becomes impossible.
Caroline, my dear, I'm dreadfully sorry, dreadfully! I love you like my
own child. And poor Malcolm will be heartbroken--but--you _see_."

She extended her hand in a gesture of utter helplessness. Stephen,
who had been fuming and repressing his rage with difficulty during the
scene, leaped forward with brandished fist.

"By gad!" he shouted. "Mal Dunn, you cad--"

His uncle pushed him back with a sweep of his arm.

"Steve," he ordered, "I'm runnin' this ship." He gave a quick glance at
his niece, and then added, speaking rapidly and addressing the head of
the Dunn family, "I see, ma'am. Yes, yes, I see. Well, you've forgot one
thing, I guess. Caroline's lived in high society, too. And I've been in
it a spell, myself. And Steve's a boy, but he's got a business head. If
there's nothin' in marriage but business, then an engagement is what I
just called it, a business contract, and it can't be broke without the
consent of both sides. You wanted Caroline's money; maybe she wants
yours now. If she does, and there's such a thing as law, why, perhaps
she can get it."

"That's the talk!" cried Stephen exultingly.

"Yup; perhaps she can. She may be a business woman, too, you know. If
money and style and social position's what counts and she wants to force
you to keep your promise, why, I'm her guardian and she can count on me
to back her up. What do you say, Caroline? I'm at your service. I--"

But Caroline interrupted him.

"Stop!" she cried wildly. "Oh, stop! Do you think--do you suppose I
would marry him now? _Now_, after I've seen what he is? Oh," with a
shudder of disgust, "when I think what I might have done, I.... Thank
God that the money has gone! I'm glad I'm poor! I'm _glad_!"

"Caro, you fool!" shrieked Stephen