"But, dear child, that is hardly courteous. He is our guest." "He need not have made himself a guest. He has spoiled our whole holiday. He has spoiled the whole dear old place for me," her eyes filling with tears. "I shall never hear the sea again without hearing that song in it." "It was a very good song, I assure you, Jane. I do wish you had a better ear. Why, Bruce has a voice of remarkable compass. I fancied he struck a false note once, though." "It was all false--false and cruel!" vehemently. "And why should he sing it there, where you and I have always had such good times?" "I am astonished, Jane! But you never had any perception of character. Bruce is such a thoroughly good fellow, I fancied you would be friends." "I never saw any one before whom I disliked so much," slowly, as if to collect her verdict with certainty. "He seems to me like so much unmitigated brute force." "Tut! tut!" said the captain absently, looking out to see how the early wheat was coming on. She touched his arm presently: "Father, you said you thought we should be good friends. I never had a man for a friend but you." "Certainly not. Good Heavens! what are you thinking of?" "Most girls do," gravely, her color rising. "Oh, I know all about the world. Miss Fleming told me that when she was my age she had a dozen chums--hearty, good fellows." The captain hastily put his arm about her: "All very well for Cornelia Fleming, child. She's a middle-aged woman. But not for you." "When I am middle-aged, then," looking up at him anxiously, "if I have a friend I know precisely what he will be. Of fair complexion, placid, truth-telling--" "Yourself duplicated," laughed the captain. "But here is Mr. Neckart." The two men took the seat in front of her, and as night came on and the lamps burned dimly, Jane wrapped her veil about her head and fell asleep. Mr. Neckart remembered at last the purpose of his visit in the morning. "Surely something can be done to compel Laidley to leave the property to its rightful owners. Have you stated the case to him plainly?" he asked. "I? State it? Now, Bruce, how could I? If I were not the one to be benefited by it, I'd put it to him forcibly enough. But as it is--No, I've not the moral courage for that." "But for your daughter's sake--"