She mourned him, after a fashion, but she preferred not to talk about
him.

"Yes," she answered shortly. "It--it looks as if it might snow, doesn't
it?"

"I shouldn't wonder. Have you any children, ma'am?"

"One--a son." The widow's tone was frigid.

"So? He must be a comfort to you. I s'pose likely he's a friend of my
nephew and niece, too."

"Certainly."

"That's good. Young folks ought to have young friends. You live in this
neighborhood, ma'am?"

The lady did not answer. She gazed haughtily at the trees in the Park.
Captain Elisha rubbed a smile from his lips with his hand and remained
silent. The tall clock ticked loud.

There came the sound of laughter from the passage outside. The hall
door opened. A moment later, Caroline, followed by her brother and young
Dunn, entered the library.

The girl's cheeks were rosy from the cold wind. Her hair, beneath the
fur auto cap, had blown in brown, rippled disorder across her forehead.
She was smiling.

"Oh, Mrs. Dunn!" she cried. "I'm so glad I accepted
your--Malcolm's--invitation. We had a glorious ride! I--"

She stopped short. Captain Warren had risen from his chair and was
facing her. Mrs. Dunn also rose.

"Caroline," she said, nervously, "this"--pausing on the word--"gentleman
is here to see you. He says he is--"

The captain interrupted her. Stepping forward he seized his niece's
hands in his. "Well, well!" he exclaimed admiringly. "'Bije's girl, that
I ain't seen since you was a little mite of a baby! Caroline, I'm your
Uncle Elisha."

"Good _Lord_!" groaned Stephen Warren.

CHAPTER IV

If the captain heard Stephen's fervent ejaculation, he paid no attention
to it. Dropping his niece's hand, he extended his own toward his nephew.

"And this is Stephen?" he said. "Well, Steve, you and me have never met
afore, I b'lieve. But that's our misfortune, not our fault, hey? How are
you? Pretty smart?"

The boy's face was flaming. He mumbled something to the effect that he
was all right enough, and turned away without accepting the proffered
hand. Captain Elisha glanced quickly at him, then at his sister.

"Well, Caroline," he said, pleasantly, "I s'pose you've been expectin'
me. Mr. Graves told you I was comin', didn't he?"

Miss Warren, also, was flushed with embarrassment and mortified
surprise.

"No," she stammered. "He has been ill."

"Sho! you don't say! Mrs. Dunn--your friend here--said he was laid up
with a cold, but I didn't re