He removed his hat, cleared his throat behind his black stock, and spoke with impressive deliberation.
"Good morning, Keziah.

Ah--er--morning, Grace." Even in the tone given to a perfunctory salutation like this, the captain differentiated between Regular and Come-Outer.

"Keziah, I--hum, ha!--rather expected to find you alone." "I was just going, Cap'n Daniels," explained the girl.

The captain bowed and continued.
"Keziah," he said, "Keziah, I came to see you on a somewhat important matter.

I have a proposal I wish to make you." He must have been surprised at the effect of his words.