He did not speak again for what, to Mrs.
Barnes, seemed a long, long time.

At length she could bear it no longer.
"PLEASE, Obed," she begged.
The captain slowly shook his head.

Then he laughed a short, mirthless laugh.
"What an old fool I am!" he muttered.

"What an old fool!" "Obed, don't talk so! Don't! Do you want to make this--everything--harder for me ?" He straightened and squared his shoulders.
"Thank you, Thankful," he said, earnestly.

"Thank you for sayin' that.
That's the way to talk to me.