alize 'twas as bad as that. So you didn't
know I was comin' at all."

"No. We--we have not heard from you since he returned."

"That's too bad. I hope I sha'n't put you out any, droppin' in on
you this way. You mustn't treat me as comp'ny, you know. If 'tain't
convenient, if your spare room ain't ready so soon after movin', or
anything of that kind, I can go to a hotel somewheres for a day or so.
Hadn't I better, don't you think?"

Caroline hesitated. If only they might have been spared this public
humiliation. If the Dunns had not been there. It was bad enough to
have this dreadful country uncle come at all; but to have him come now,
before they were prepared, before any explanations had been made! What
should she do?

Her brother, fidgeting at her elbow, not daring to look at Malcolm
Dunn, who, he knew, was thoroughly enjoying the scene, could stand it no
longer.

"Caro," he snapped, "what are you waiting for? Don't you _know_ that the
rooms are not ready? Of course they're not! We're sorry, and all that,
but Graves didn't tell us and we weren't prepared. Certainly he'll have
to go to the hotel, for--for the present."

He ventured to raise his eyes and glare indignantly at the captain.
Finding the latter looking intently at him, he dropped them again and
jammed his clenched fists into his pockets.

Captain Elisha pulled thoughtfully at his beard.

"Humph!" he grunted. "Humph! then I cal'late maybe--" He took a step
toward the door, stopped, turned back, and said, with calm decision, "I
guess I'd better stay. You won't mind me, Caroline--you and Stephen. You
_mustn't_. As I said, I ain't comp'ny. I'm one of the family, your pa's
brother, and I've come some consider'ble ways to see you two young folks
and talk with you. I've come because your pa asked me to. I'm used to
roughin' it, been to sea a good many v'yages, and if a feather bed ain't
handy I can get my forty winks on the floor. So that's settled, and you
mustn't have me on your conscience. That's sense, ain't it, Mrs. Dunn?"

Mrs. Corcoran Dunn did not deign a reply. Caroline answered for her.

"Very well," she said, coldly. Stepping to the desk she rang a bell. The
butler appeared in the doorway.

"Edwards," said Miss Warren, "this gentleman," indicating the captain,
"is to be our guest, for the present. You may show him to his room--the
blue room, I think. If it is not ready, see that it is made so."

"Yes, Miss Caroline," replied Edwards. Retiri