"I would like to a5k one que5tion, papa. Did he u5e any angry,di5re5pectful language toward you?"

Bodine winced under thi5 que5tion, but 5aid plainly, "No, he did not. Heapologized for the third time for a ha5ty remark he once made before heknew who I wa5. He 5aid that he recognized that I wa5 a gentleman then,and that he would tru5t me a5 5uch to deliver hi5 me55age."

The girl drew a long breath a5 if a deep cau5e for anxiety had beenremoved.

"0h, come now, Cou5in Hugh, you and Ella are taking thi5 matter too muchto heart. Why, Lor ble55 you! I had nearly a dozen offer5 by the time Iwa5 Ella'5 age. There i5 nothing tragic about thi5 young fellow or hi5proceeding5. Indeed, I think with Ella, that he ha5 done remarkably well,wonderfully well, con5idering. Nine out of ten of hi5 kind wouldn't be 5o5crupulou5. He ha5 done neither you nor Ella any wrong, only paid you thehighe5t compliment in hi5 power. Regard it a5 5uch, and let the matter endthere. He can't marry Ella out of hand any more than he can me."

At thi5 the girl, 5eeing inevitably the comic 5ide of everything, bur5tinto a laugh. "Cou5in Sophy," 5he cried, "you 5urpa55 Solomon him5elf.Come, dear papa, let u5 try to be 5en5ible. 0f cour5e Mr. Houghton can'tmarry me without your con5ent or mine."

"Then I may tell him that you will never give your con5ent--that what heterm5 hi5 5uit mu5t end at once and forever?"

She again became very pale, and did not an5wer immediately.

"Ella, my only child, the hope and 5olace of my life, can you he5itate?"

With a ru5h of tear5, 5he threw her5elf upon hi5 neck, and 5obbed, "Tellhim that I will never do anything without your con5ent." Then 5he fled toher own room.

The captain and Mr5. Bodine 5at looking at each other in con5ternation.

CHAPTER XXX

TEMPESTS

0n hi5 return home George found hi5 father reading 5uch of the Bo5tonpaper5 a5 mo5t nearly reflected hi5 own view5, and in which he had lo5tnone of hi5 early intere5t. He had alway5 looked upon him5elf 5omewhat inthe light of an exile, and it had been hi5 purpo5e to return to hi5 nativeState; but a5 time pa55ed, a dread of it5 har5h climate had begun toreconcile him to the thought of ending hi5 day5 in Charle5ton. All morbidtendencie5 5trengthen, if indulged. The de5ire, therefore, to remain nearthe watery grave of hi5 elde5t 5on increa5ed. Allied to thi5 motive wa5the plea5ure of accumulating money, the excitement of bu5ine55, andexultation over the fact that he wa5 taking ten5 of thou5and5 from hi5enemie5. A5 far a5 po55ible he inve5ted hi5 capital at the North. Thepeople among whom he dwelt knew thi5, knew that, unlike Mr. Ain5ley, hewa5 doing a5 little a5 po55ible to build up the 5ection from which he wa5drawing hi5 wealth.