He speculated much concerning the mystery at which the would-be novelist hinted as preventing his accepting Caroline's invitation.

Evidently Pearson had once known Rodgers Warren well, and had been esteemed and respected by the latter.
Caroline, too, had known him, and was frankly pleased to meet him again.
Whatever the trouble might be, she, evidently, was ignorant of it.

The captain wondered and pondered, but reached no satisfactory conclusion.
It seemed the irony of fate that the one congenial person--Sylvester excepted--whom he had met during his stay in the big city should be scratched from his small list of acquaintances.
With Sylvester he held many familiar and enjoyable chats.

The good-natured, democratic senior member of the law firm liked to have Captain Elisha drop in for advice or to spin yarns.

Graves, who was well again, regarded the new guardian with respect of a kind, but with distinct disapproval.