“Bless your dear heart!” responded the captain; “the same good wishes to you in return, and now you must join me in my respects to your aunt.  Nancy!  I beg you not to waste this in pudding-sauces; that’s the way with you ladies.”

The toast-drinking had a good effect upon the little company, and it seemed as if the cloud which had hung over it at first had been blown away.  When there was no longer any excuse for lingering at the table, the guest seemed again a little ill at ease, and after a glance at his hostess, proposed to Nan that they should take a look at the garden.  The old sailor had become in his later years a devoted tiller of the soil, and pleaded a desire to see some late roses which were just now in bloom.  So he and Nan went down the walk together, and he fidgeted and hurried about for a few minutes before he could make up his mind to begin a speech which was weighing heavily on his conscience.

Nan was sure that something unusual was perplexing him, and answered his unnecessary questions patiently, wondering what he was trying to say.

“Dear me!” he grumbled at last, “I shall have to steer a straight course.  The truth is, Nancy has been telling me that I ought to advise with you, and see that you understand what you are about with young Gerry.  She has set her heart on your fancying him.  I dare say you know she has treated him like a son all through his growing up; but now that you have come to your rightful place, she can’t bear to have anybody hint at your going back to the other people.  ’Tis plain enough what he thinks about it, and I must say I believe it would be for your good.  Here you are with your father’s family, what is left of it; and I take no liberty when I tell you that your aunt desires this to be your home, and means to give you your father’s share of the property now and the rest when she is done with it.  It is no more than your rights, and I know as much as anybody about it, and can tell you that there’s a handsomer fortune than you may have suspected.  Money grows fast if it is let alone; and though your aunt has done a good deal for others, her expenses have been well held in hand.  I must say I should like to keep you here, child,” the captain faltered, “but I shall want to do what’s for your happiness.  I couldn’t feel more earnest about that if I were your own father.  You must think it over.  I’m not going to beseech you:  I learned long ago that ’tis no use to drive a Prince.”

Nan had tried at first to look unconcerned and treat the matter lightly, but this straightforward talk appealed to her much more than the suggestion and general advice which Miss Prince had implored the captain to give the night before.  And now her niece could only thank him for his kindness, and tell him that by and by she would make him understand why she put aside these reasons, and went back to the life she had known before.

But a sudden inspiration made her resolution grow stronger, and she looked at Captain Parish with a convincing bravery.