Part 23 (1/2)
Here was candor undiluted Elsie was speaking without heat Shesome disputed point in ethics The Spaniard was obviously thrown off his guard
”You seem to demand an explanation,” he said with some warmth ”Well, you shall have it I areeable I adht almost describe it as a conviction, that Captain Courtenay'sadmiration”
”This is the wildest folly,” cried Elsie in bewilderine what put such a notion into your head”
”Let me at least lay claim to a species of altruism,” he replied ”I can see fifty excellent reasons why our young and good-looking coainst it”
”But he is already engaged to another woman, so my one reason is worth more than all your fifty”
”Ah, can that really be so?”
The tense eagerness in his voice ht have warned her, were it not that she was shocked by the bitterness which welled up in her heart
She was alimpse; it alarmed her; she must convince herself, at all costs, that she had spoken truly
Although the evidence she tendered was of dubious value, she strove to advance her argureatly, Dr Christobal,” she said, speaking with a calreatly that I am compelled to utter this protest Now, to end a distasteful controversy, let me tell you what I know to be true When the shi+p was stranded, and we all thought our only chance of safety was to take to the boats, by a fluke, the accident of the moment, I was left alone in the captain's cabin The sea was breaking in through the doorway, and it brought an odd relief to my over-burthened mind when I endeavored to rescue the contents of a locker which, for so them I found some letters I think you will believe me when I say that I would not consciously read another person's private correspondence Just then, I was hardly responsible forof a passage in a letter from Captain Courtenay's sister which alluded to his affianced wife It is not such a tragic adht were it not for your ht I paid no heed at the time to the innuendo that I had come on deck to find hi of a type of wohten out a stupid little tangle It would be ridiculous, in our present state of suspended aniin that , therefore, that she failed to note the unmixed satisfaction hich Christobal listened
”Aiven, then?” he asked, with a new tenderness in his voice
”Oh, yes, let us laugh at it”
”But--”
”Please let us talk of soht ask the captain if he approves of it We have plenty of strong canvas; what do you say if I set to work and cover in the promenade deck, fore and aft as well as on both sides? Then, if the Indians try to seize the shi+p, they would not be able to gain a lodgment at so many points simultaneously It would simplify the defense, so to speak”
”Adree Indeed, I am ashamed that we superior o, let iveness is coree of blessedness? I assure you I like you ht I was flinging myself at our excellent captain's head, so you tried to spare s of unrequited love” The words hurt, but she did not flinch Christobal, anxious to deceive hioes too far,” he cried ”That was not the exact reason
No, in to exercise a new-born discretion I shall not elucidate that cryptic remark until after New Year's Day
But I don't oes ith us--and we have had so many escapes that Providence may well send us a few more--the _Kansas_ should steam out of our little bay of Good Hope about that period Then I shall remind you of our discussion, and keep asp or two of surprise, for Elsie could read only one e companion to arouse Mr Boyle and ask what he would like for luncheon
”Thank goodness, Joey,” she oodness, Mr Boyle is neither an engaged man nor a er I do believe our excellent doctor is more concerned on his own account than on rowing ad of the sort, and if you dare to hint at such a thing I shall be very angry with you--very--angry--indeed”
”Huh,” h the open door, ”son of trouble when a wo or cat Noho can it be? That doctor chap? He cocked his eye at her this h old bird to think about settin' up house with a nice young jenny wren damn his eyes! he may be as rich as a Jew, but if she doesn't want hiht sort of Spanish, an' all Now, had it been the skipper--”
Boyle hardly knehat to think--”had it been the skipper”
CHAPTER XII
ENLIGHTENMENT
The captain was enthusiastic when he heard of Elsie's idea for the protection of the main deck--”an excellent notion,” he terestion that she should undertake the work herself