Страница 60 из 416

"I cal'late I can give you a pretty good idea where all this

trouble started from," he growled in a low tone; but before he

could go on Nellie interrupted him.

"Father," she said, coming forward with Nat, "I want to tell you

something that we've all been too busy to discuss before this.

Nat and I are engaged. He gave me the ring night before last when

you were in St. John's. I hope you are pleased, father."

Bijonah Tanner remained silent for a moment, plainly embarrassed

by the duty before him. Between most men who follow the sea and

their daughters there is much less intimacy than with those who

are in other walks of life. Long absences and the feeling that a

mother is responsible for her girls are reasons for this; while

in the case of boys, who begin to putter round the parental

schooner from their earliest youth, a much closer feeling exists.

Tanner could not bridge the chasm between himself and his

daughter.

"Did you tell your mother?" he asked finally.

"Yes."

"And was she satisfied?"