Each time he decided not to do so.
No doubt there were good reasons; Caroline and her brother had been detained; perhaps the automobile had broken down--the things were always breaking down just at the most inconvenient times; perhaps....

Well, at any rate, he would not 'phone just yet; he would wait a little longer.
At last the bell rang.

Captain Elisha sprang up, smiling, his impatience and worry forgotten, and, pushing the butler aside, hurried to open the door himself.

He did so and faced, not his niece and nephew, but Pearson.
"Good evening, Captain," hailed the young man, cheerily.

"Didn't expect me, did you?
I dropped in for a moment to shake hands with you and to offer congratulations to Miss Warren." Then, noticing the expression on his friend's face, he added, "What's the matter?
Anything wrong?
Am I intruding ?" "No, no! Course not.