You could not have chosen a finer husband, little
girl. Robert Morton is one man in a thousand. We'll talk more of him
by and by. Just now I wish to meet all your family. You must present
each one, so that I shall not get all these many captains confused."
How simply and naturally he bridged the awkwardness of the moment!
Before they realized it, Abbie and the three veteran seafarers were
chatting gaily with the visitor, and even Zenas Henry was venturing out
of his reserve and unbending into geniality when the words "_and now to
business_" chilled the warmth of his mood and sent him back into his
shell, thrilling with vague forebodings.
With every eye fixed expectantly upon him, Mr. Galbraith took off his
Panama and fanned himself.
"Now that we have put together a few of the links that bind our two
families," he began, "and laid the foundation for a friendship which I
hope the future will foster, there are a few intimate matters of which
I wish to speak. First there is Bob Morton, and if you want any
reassuring as to his character, I can give it to you.
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