You hear _me_!" She proved to be worth all of that, at least in Pearson's opinion.

His calls and the readings and discussions became more and more frequent.
Each of the trio enjoyed them greatly, Caroline quite as much as the others.

Here was something new and fresh, something to furnish a real interest.

The story advanced rapidly, the character of the nautical hero shaped itself better and better, and the heroine, also, heretofore a somewhat shadowy and vague young woman, began to live and breathe.
She changed surprisingly, not only in mental but in physical characteristics.
Captain Elisha was first to notice the latter peculiarity.
"Say, Jim!" he interrupted, one afternoon, "what was that you just read about Mary?
Her hat blowin' off to leeward and her brown hair blowin' after it?
Or somethin' of that sort ?" Caroline laughed merrily.

The author turned to the passage mentioned.
"Not exactly, Captain," he replied, smiling.