Part 22 (1/2)

”Why don't I take the boy along,” Mr Aiken suggested, eyeing , and the sea would do hih bother without him,” replied my father

”Personally I have found hi my short visit”

”hell,” said Mr Aiken, ”he wouldn't be no trouble, but he looks fair ugly here, so he does, and he knows tooto be left alone with an ignorant nigger”

My father shrugged his shoulders

”Brutus is fond of the boy He will not hurt hier,” said Mr Aiken

My father nodded blandly toward the hall

”And you ht be seasick,” he said

”Har,” roared Mr Aiken, seely struck by the subtle humor of the re off under you damned if I ever seen the likes of you now, captain”

Still under the spell of mirth he left us The house door closed behind hilided into the roo, ”I am sorry the cards have fallen so we s as I to reret it, even though I know it is for the best It is ti such low company”

”I have found it pleasant sometimes,” she replied a little wistfully ”It takes very little to please , ”anything is pleasant, but only sometimes Your brother has been notified, Mademoiselle You should hear from him in a little while nohen this hurry and bustle is over, and when you see hirets And Mademoiselle”

--he hesitated an instant--”would you think it insolent if I said I sometimes wished--Mon Dieu, Mademoiselle, do not take it so It was entirely unpardonable of me”

Made slightly, rubbed his thuive me, if you can,” he said ”I have often feared my manners would fail me sometime”

She looked up at hiht

”Suppose,” she said softly, ”I told you there was nothing to forgive

Suppose I said--”

My father, bowing his lowest, politely and rather hastily interrupted

”Madeotten that it is quite i her head slowly, ”it is not impossible

You should have known better than to say that Suppose--” her voice choked a little, as though the words hurt her--”suppose I bade you recall, captain, what you said on the stairs at Blanzy, when they were at the door and you were going to meet them Do you reesture of assumed despair Then his voice, very slow and cool, broke in on her speech and stilled it

”Good God, Made with the hilt of his sword, he stepped nearer, still s her with a polished curiosity

”I have said so s It is hard to remember them all They have becoround, whose eleer separate Your pardon, otten so coentle blur”

And he pressed his hand over his brow and sighed, while he watched her face flush criotten!”

My father ceased to smile