Old Cap’n Billy did not answer before he had breathed awhile, and then, having tried his cigar and found it out, he scraped a match on his coat-sleeve. He looked at the flame while it burned from blue to yellow. “Well, I guess if anybody’s been p’tic’lar, it’s been him. There ain’t any doubt but what he’s got a takin’ way with the women. They like him. He’s masterful, and he ain’t a fool, and women most gen’ly like a man that ain’t a fool. I guess if he’s got his eye on the girl’s prop’ty, she’ll have to come along. He’d begin by havin’ his own way about her answer; he’d hang on till she said Yes, if she didn’t say it first-off; and he’d keep on as he’d begun. I guess if he wants her it’s a match.” And Cap’n Billy threw his own into the square box of tobacco-stained sawdust under the stove. Mrs. Maynard fully shared the opinion which rocked Dr. Mulbridge’s defeat with a belief in his invincible will. When it became necessary, in the course of events which made Grace and Libby resolve upon a short engagement, to tell her that they were going to be married, she expressed a frank astonishment. “Walter Libby!” she cried. “Well, I _am_ surprised. When I was talking to you the other day about getting married, of course I supposed it was going to be Dr. Mulbridge. I didn’t want you to marry him, but I thought you were going to.” “And why,” demanded Grace, with mounting sensation, “did you think that?” “Oh, I thought you would have to.” “Have to?” “Oh, you have such a weak will. Or I always thought you had. But perhaps it’s only a weak will with other women. _I_ don’t know! But Walter Libby! I knew he was perfectly gone upon _you_, and I told you so at the beginning; but I never dreamt of your caring for _him_. Why, it seems too ridiculous.” “Indeed! I’m glad that it amuses you.” “Oh no, you’re not, Grace. But you know what I mean. He seems so much younger.” “Younger? He’s half a year older than I am.” “I didn’t say he was younger. But you’re so very grave and he’s so very light. Well, I always told Walter Libby I should get him a wife, but you were the last person I should have thought of. What’s going to become of all your high purposes? You can’t do anything with _them_ when you’re married! But you won’t have any occasion for them, that’s one comfort.” “It’s not my idea of marriage that any high purpose will be lost in it.” “Oh, it isn’t anybody’s, before they _get_ married. _I_ had such high purposes I couldn’t rest. I felt like hiring a hall, as George says, all the time. Walter Libby isn’t going to let you _practise_, is he? You mustn’t let him! I know he’d be willing to do anything you said, but a husband ought to be something more than a mere & Co.” Grace laughed at the impudent cynicism of all this, for she was too happy to be vexed with any one just then. “I’m glad you’ve come to think so well of husbands’ rights at last, Louise,” she said.