“So this is my young cousin?” said the captain gallantly, and with great simplicity and tenderness held both Nan’s hands and looked full in her face a moment before he kissed her; then to Miss Prince’s great discomposure and embarrassment he turned to the window and looked out without saying a word, though he drew the back of his hand across his eyes in sailor-fashion, as if he wished to make them clear while he sighted something on the horizon.  Miss Prince thought it was all nonsense and would have liked to say so, though she trusted that her silence was eloquent enough.

“She brings back the past,” said Captain Walter as he returned presently and seated himself where he could look at Nan as much as he liked.  “She brings back the past.”

“You were speaking of old Captain Slater,” reminded Miss Prince with some dignity.

“I just came from there,” said Captain Parish, with his eyes still fixed on his young relative, though it was with such a friendly gaze that Nan was growing fonder of him every minute.  “They told me he was about the same as yesterday.  I offered to watch with him to-morrow night.  And how do you like the looks of Dunport, my dear?”

Nan answered eagerly with brightening face, and added that she was longing to see more of it; the old wharves especially.

“Now that’s good,” said the captain; “I wonder if you would care anything about taking a stroll with me in the morning.  Your aunt here is a famous housekeeper, and will be glad to get you off her hands, I dare say.”

Nan eagerly accepted, and though it was suggested that Miss Prince had a plan for showing the town in the afternoon, she was promptly told that there was nothing easier than taking both these pleasant opportunities.  “You would lose yourself among the old storehouses, I’m sure, Nancy,” laughed the old sailor, “and you must let me have my way.  It’s a chance one doesn’t get every day, to tell the old Dunport stories to a new listener.”

Some one had opened the front door, and was heard coming along the hall.  “This is very kind, George,” said Miss Prince, with much pleasure, while the captain looked a little disconcerted at his young rival; he assured himself that he would make a long morning’s cruise of it, next day, with this attractive sightseer, and for once the young beaux would be at a disadvantage; the girls of his own day used to think him one of the best of their gallants, and at this thought the captain was invincible.  Mr. Gerry must take the second chance.

The blinds were open now, and the old room seemed very pleasant.  Nan’s brown hair had been blown about not a little in the garden, and as she sat at the end of the long, brass-nailed sofa, a ray of sunshine touched the glass of a picture behind her and flew forward again to tangle itself in her stray locks, so that altogether there was a sort of golden halo about her pretty head.  And young Gerry thought he had never seen anything so charming.  The white frock was a welcome addition to the usually sombre room, and his eyes quickly saw the flowers on the table.  He knew instantly that the bouquet was none of Miss Prince’s gathering.