“Very well, father; but remember, I am loving you all the time, although I am not telling you so,” said Em., with an attempt at a smile, which, even if she had succeeded, could not have been seen by him for whom it was intended, for the short though brilliant twilight of the autumn had faded away, and it was growing dark in the wooded mountain road. They drove on slowly and in silence, winding down the mountainside. An hour’s careful driving brought them down to the foot of the precipice and to the banks of the river. Then John paused for a few moments to rest his horse. “The old commodore was main fond of you, Em.” “Yes, father, and I of him, too.” “Indeed! Were you now? That’s odd! He said he wanted you to stay with him as his reader and writer after you had got through with Mrs. Bruce’s sewing, but you declined.” “Yes, sir.” “I am glad of it! Why, Em., what on earth should an edicated old gentleman like him, with a good pair of spectacles, want of a reader and writer, especially a young girl like you? It is all in my eye, Em.! The old man wanted to marry you! A thing as your mother and I never would have consented to, no, not if he had been as rich as _Creases_!” “Oh, oh, oh, father!” cried Em. in a perfect ecstacy of horror. “It was nothing like that! Nothing, nothing like that! He never would have dreamed of such a dreadful thing! Oh, no, no, no! Oh, father, how could you dream of such—oh, father!” “I don’t know, Em. These aged old gentlemen, when they are widowers, are perfect wampires after young wives, and think they can buy a pretty one for money, just as easy as a heathen could go buy a girl in one o’ them slave markets in London or Paris, or some o’ them Pagan nations where they sell young women for wives. Wish one on ’em would come after _you_, Em.! I would send him home with a wasp in his ear that would make him dance livelier ’n he did in his boyhood’s days! Would be almost as good for him as a young wife! Are you cold, child? Wrap your shawl closer around you; you are shivering.” “No, father, dear, but this talk is horrible,” said the girl, shuddering. “Glad to hear it! It was so intended! And now I hope you won’t think any more of marrying a rich old dotard and being made a lady of _that way_! said John sturdily. “Oh, father, I never _did_ think of it; nor no one else that I know of except you!”