Mr.

"Benjamin
never before had the old man's voice taken that tone, never before had he even
alluded to the girl as anything more than a child. On the contrary, he had been
silent, he had been humble, he had been openly grateful to the strong young man
who had taken his place on sea and shore, and kept the castle full and warm.
'What new thing is this?' thought Waring, and asked the same, 'Is it new?’ said
Fog. 'I thought it old, very old, I mean no mystery, I speak plainly. You helped me in
my great strait, and I thank you; perhaps it will be counted into you for good in
the reckoning up of your life. But I am strong again, and the ice is forming. You
can have no intention of making Silver your wife?' Waring looked up, their eyes
met. 'No,' he replied slowly, as though the words were being dragged out of him
by the magnetism of the old man's gaze, 'I certainly have no such intention.'
Nothing more was said; soon Waring rose and went out. But Silver spied him
from her flower-room, and came down to the sail-boat where it lay at the foot of
the ladder. 'You are not going out this cold day,' she said, standing by his side as
he busied himself over the rigging. She was wrapped in a fur mantle, with a fur
cap on her head, and her rough little shoes were fur-trimmed. Waring made no
reply. 'But I shaft not allow it,' continued the maiden, gayly. 'Am I not queen of this
castle? You yourself have said it many a time. You cannot go, Jarvis; I want you
here. 'And with her soft hands she blinded him playfully. 'Silver, Silver,' called old
Fog's voice above, 'come within; I want you.' After that the two men were very
crafty in their preparations. The boat ready, Waring went the rounds for the last
time. He brought down wood for several days and stacked it, he looked again at
all the provisions and reckoned them over; then he rowed to the north shore,
visited his traps, called out the dogs from the little house he had made for them,
and bade them good by. 'I shall leave you for old Fog,' he said; 'be good dogs, and
bring in all you can for the castle.' The dogs wagged there tails, and waited
politely on the beach until he was out of sight; but they did not seem to believe his
story, and went back to their house tranquilly without a howl. The day passed as
usual. Once the two men happened to meet in the passage-way. 'Silver seems
restless, we must wait till darkness,' said Fog in a low tone. 'Very well,' replied
Waring. At midnight they were off, rowing over the black water in the sail--boat.