He spoke now and hurriedly. "Well," he began, "I suppose----" But she had looked up and now she spoke. Apparently she had not heard him, for she said: "Tell me about it, Cap'n Kendrick, please. I want to hear all about it. You said you knew? You say Judge Knowles hinted that he was going to do this--for me? Tell me all about it, please. Please." So he told her, all that he could remember of the judge's words concerning his regard for her, of his high opinion of her abilities, of his friendship for her father, and of his intention to see that she was "provided for." "I didn't know just what he meant, of course," he said, in conclusion, "but I guessed, some of it. I do want you to know, Elizabeth," he added, stammering a little in his earnestness, "how glad I am for you, how _very_ glad." "Yes," she said, "I do know." "Well, I--I haven't said much, but I _am_. I don't think I ever was more glad, or could be. You believe that, don't you?" She looked at him in surprise. "Why, of course I believe it," she said. "Why do you ask that?" "Oh, I--I don't know. I hadn't said much about it." "But it wasn't necessary. I knew you were glad. I know you by this time, Cap'n Kendrick, through and through." The same guilty shiver ran down his spine and he glanced sharply at her to see if there was any hidden meaning behind her words. But there was not. She was looking down again, and when she again spoke it was to repeat the question she had asked at the lawyer's office. "I wonder if I ought to take it?" she murmured. "Do you think it is right for me to accept--so much? "Right!" he repeated. "Right? Of course its right. And because it is enough to amount to somethin' makes it all the more right. Judge Knowles knew what he was doin', trust his long head for that. A little would only have made things easier where you were.... Now," he forced himself to say it, "now you can be independent." "Independent?" "Why, yes. Do what you like--in reason. Steer your own course. Live as you want to ... and where ... and _how_ you want to." They were simple sentences these, but he found them hard to say. She turned again to look at him. "Why do you speak like that?" she asked. "How should I want to live? What do you mean?" "I mean--er--you can think of your own happiness and--plans, and--all that. You won't be anchored to the Fair Harbor, unless you want to be. You.... Eh? Hi! Standby! Whoa! _Whoa!_" The last commands were roars at the horse, for, at that moment, the squall struck.