She smiled a smile which was very quiet and flat.  “Now, don’t get angry,” she said.  “We can talk over things in a friendly way just as well as not, and it will be a great deal better to do it.  And I’d rather talk here in the public road than anywhere else; it’s more private.”

“I don’t want a word to say to you,” said the captain, preparing to move on.  “I have nothing at all to do with you.”

“Ah,” said Miss Port, with another smile, “but I think you have.  You’ve got to marry me, you know.”

Then the captain stopped suddenly.  He opened his mouth, but he could find no immediate words.

“Yes, indeed,” said Miss Port, now speaking quietly; “and when I saw Mr. Lancaster had come to town, I knew that I must see you at once.  Of course, he has come to take away your niece, and that’s the best thing to be done, for she wouldn’t want to keep on livin’ here where so many people have known her.  At first I thought that would be a very good thing, for you would be separated from her, and that’s what you need and deserve.  Young men are young men, and they are often a good deal kinder than they would be if they stopped to think.  But a person of mature age is different.  He would know what is due to himself and his standing in society.  At least, that is what I did think.  But it suddenly flashed on me that they might want to get away as quick as they could—­which would be proper, dear knows—­and it would be just like you to go with them.  And so I came right out.”

The captain had listened to all this because he very much wanted to know what she had to say, but now he exclaimed:  “Do you suppose I shall pay any attention to all the gossip about my affairs?”

“Now, don’t go on like that,” said Miss Port; “it doesn’t do any good, and if you’ll only keep quiet, and think pleasantly about it, there will be no trouble at all.  You know you’ve got to marry me; that’s settled.  Everybody knows about it, and has known about it for years.  I didn’t press the matter while father was alive because I knew it would worry him.  But now I’m going to do it.  Not in any anger or bad feelin’, but gently, and as firmly as if I was that tree.  I don’t want to go to any law, but if I have to do it, I’ll do it.  I’ve got my proofs and my witnesses, and I’m all right.  The people of your own house are witnesses.  And there are ever so many more.”

“Woman!” cried the captain, “don’t you say another word!  And don’t you ever dare to speak to me again!  I’m not going away, and my niece is not going away; and I assure you that I hate and despise you so much that all the law in the world couldn’t make me marry you.  Although you know as well as I do that all you’ve been saying has no sense or truth in it.”