Part 20 (2/2)
”But, Cap'n Kendrick--” she began. He stopped her.
”It is all right, Miss Elizabeth,” he said. ”I'm handlin' this matter now. All you've got to do is look on.... Well, are they comin' or must I go after 'em?”
Apparently he had forgotten that his lameness made going anywhere a slow proceeding. As a matter of fact he had. He had forgotten everything except the business of the moment and the joy of being once more in supreme command.
The message borne by Mrs. Tidditt had, presumably, been delivered. The messenger had left the dining room door open and through it came a tremendous rattle of tongues. Obviously the captain's order had created a sensation.
Elizabeth listened.
”Well?” repeated Sears, again. ”Are they goin' to come?”
Miss Berry smiled faintly. ”I think they will come,” she answered. ”If they are as--as curious as I am they will.”
They were. At any rate they came. Miss Snowden, Mrs. Brackett and Mrs.
Chase in the lead, the others following. Mrs. Tidditt brought up the rear, marshaling the stragglers, as it were.
Elvira was, of course, the spokeswoman. She was the incarnation of dignified and somewhat resentful surprise.
”We have been told,” she began, loftily, ”we have been _told_, Cap'n Kendrick, that you wished to speak to us. We can't imagine why, but we have came--come, I should say. _Do_ you wish to speak to us?”
Kendrick nodded. ”Yes,” he said crisply, ”I do. I want to tell you that you mustn't go to Judge Knowles about buyin' those iron statues of Cap'n Seth's or about anything else. He is sick and mustn't be worried. Miss Berry says so, and I agree with her.”
He paused From the committee came a gasp, or concert of gasps and muttered exclamations, indicating astonishment. Elvira voiced the feeling.
”You agree with her!” she exclaimed. ”_You_ agree? Why--I never did!”
”Yes. And I agree with her, too, about buyin' those--er--lions and dogs and--hogs, or whatever they are. I don't say they aren't worth seventy-five dollars or more--or less--I don't know. But I do say that, until I have had time to look into things aboard here, I don't want any money spent except for stores and other necessities. There isn't a bit of personal feelin' in this, you must understand, it is business, that's all.”
He paused once more, to let this sink in. It sank apparently and when it again came to the surface an outburst of incoherent indignation came with it. Every committee-woman said something, even Mrs. Chase, although her observations were demands to know what was being said by the rest.
Elizabeth was the only one who remained silent. She was gazing, wide-eyed, at the captain, and upon her face was a strange expression, an expression of eagerness, dawning understanding, and--yes, of hope.
Miss Snowden was so completely taken aback that she was incapable of connected speech. Mrs. Susanna Brackett, however, was of a temperament less easily upset. She stepped forward.
”Cap'n Kendrick,” she demanded, ”what are you talkin' about? What right have you got to say how the Fair Harbor money shall be spent? What are you interferin' here for I'd like to know?”
”I'm not interferin'. I'm taking charge, that's all.
”Takin' _charge_?... My land of love!... Charge of what?”
”Of this craft here, this Fair Harbor place. Judge Knowles offered me the general management of it three days ago.”
Even the Brackett temperament was not proof against such a shock.
Susanna herself found difficulty in speaking.
”You--you--” she sputtered. ”My soul to heavens! Do you mean---- Are you crazy?”
”Um--maybe. But, anyhow, crazy or not, I'm in command aboard here from now on. Miss Elizabeth here--and her mother, of course--will be captain and mate, same as they've always been, but I'll be--well, commodore or admiral, whichever you like to call it. It's a queer sort of a job for a man like me,” he added, with a grim smile, ”but it looks as if it was what we'd all have to get used to.”
<script>