"You have known me for a long time," said Captain White, brusquely, "do you happen to put any kind of trust in me?" Justin struggled out of his reverie. "Yes, Micah, you know I do." "Then for goodness' sake tell me what has brought this change in you, for, hang me, if you didn't look like all the minor prophets rolled in one when I went away. My namesake, and Habakkuk and Malachi and all the rest, would have appeared like grinning idiots alongside of you, and now I have actually seen your teeth six times since I entered this blessed door." Justin not only favoured him with another sight of his big white teeth, that were set slab-like in his square jaw, but he burst into a low, hearty laugh. "I guess it must be dolly, Micah." "That's your wife." "Yes, she's my wife fast enough." "Did you marry her in California?" "Yes." "When did you get back?" "Yesterday." "What sent you there?" "Mr. Lancaster was there; he telegraphed for me; she is his daughter." Captain White took his pipe from his mouth, uttered a low, significant whistle, and measured Justin with a penetrating glance, but he asked no more questions, not being one to pry into another man's secrets. "Your mother seems a trifle put out," he observed, after a time. "Naturally she would be," replied Justin, significantly. Captain White in his turn began to laugh, at first silently and noiselessly, then with such a hearty and irrepressible explosion that Justin gazed at him in some astonishment. "Excuse me," said the elder man, waving his pipe, apologetically, "but it makes me curl up inside to think of you as a married man, you, a brat of a boy. I don't think I'm old enough yet to launch myself in the narrow matrimonial boat, and I've seen craft of all kinds sail in and out of this Bay for over fifty years." "I'm not young,--I'm old," muttered the young man, suddenly getting up and stretching out his arms, "and I'm tired from that pull across the continent. I guess I'll go to bed." "Wait a bit--what made your dolly cry to-night? I didn't frighten her, did I?" "No; you reminded her of her father. She's been grieving all day for him." "Her father--do I look like him?" "I never thought so till you came in this evening. When she saw the resemblance I caught it. You are like him, only his hair isn't quite as smooth as yours, and he is taller, but he wears dark clothes like yours, and he is lean and swarthy-complexioned, and he has small eyes--" "Small eyes--" repeated Captain White. His companion did not hear him. He had sprung up with the utmost celerity, and had hurried to the hall and up the next staircase to the floor above, from whence there had been a sound of something falling.