more; are they all right?" 

 "It was one of the M and D boats—the Louisiana, they told me. She went by here blowing for help, and I called up the office to find out. A tug and one other of their line got out to her; she had started a cylinder head bucking the ice and was taking in a little water. Uncle Benny, you must put on your coat." 

 She brushed the sleet from his shoulders and collar, and held the coat for him; he put it on obediently. 

 "Has Spearman been here to-day?" he asked, not looking at her. 

 "To see father?" 

 "No; to see you." 

 "No." 

 He seized her wrist.  "Don't see him, when he comes!" he commanded. 

 "Uncle Benny!" 

 "Don't see him!" Corvet repeated.  "He's asked you to marry him, hasn't he?" 

 Connie could not refuse the answer.  "Yes." 

 "And you?" 

 "Why—why, Uncle Benny, I haven't answered him yet." 

 "Then don't—don't; do you understand, Connie?" 

 She hesitated, frightened for him.  "I'll—I'll tell you before I see him, if you want me to, Uncle Benny," she granted. 

 "But if you shouldn't be able to tell me then, Connie; if you shouldn't—want to then?"  The humility of his look perplexed her; if he had been any other man—any man except Uncle Benny—she would have thought some shameful and terrifying threat hung over him; but he broke off sharply.  "I must go home," he said uncertainly.  "I must go home; then I'll come back. Connie, you won't give him an answer till I come back, will you?" 

 "No."  He got her promise, half frightened, half 

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