The hint concerning secret keeping was not wasted.
He did not mention the drive again.
A little later Captain Cy found Bos'n busily playing with the doll he had given her.

The other, her father's gift, was nowhere in sight.
"I put her back in the box," said the child in reply to his question.
"She was awful pretty, but I think I'm goin' to love this one best." The remark seems a foolish thing to give comfort to a grown man, but Captain Cy found comfort in it, and comfort was what he needed.
He needed it more as time went on.

In January the court gave its decision.

The captain's appointment as guardian was revoked.

With the father alive, and professedly anxious to provide for the child's support, nothing else was to be expected, so Mr.Peabody said.