"Don't you hear 'em at the door? Let 'em in!"
He reached the library first, his friend following more leisurely.
Caroline and Stephen had just entered.
"Well!" he cried, in his quarter-deck voice, his face beaming with
relief and delight, "you ARE here, ain't you! I begun to think... Why,
what's the matter?"
The question was addressed to Stephen, who stood nearest to him. The boy
did not deign to reply. With a contemptuous grunt, he turned scornfully
away from his guardian.
"What is it, Caroline?" demanded Captain Elisha. "HAS anything
happened?"
The girl looked coldly at him. A new brooch--Mrs. Corcoran Dunn's
birthday gift--sparkled at her throat.
"No accident has happened, if that is what you mean," she said.
"But--why, yes, that was what I meant. You was so awful late, and you
know you said you'd be home for dinner, so--"
"I changed my mind. Come, Steve."
She turned to leave the room. Pearson, at that moment, entered it.
Stephen saw him first.
"WHAT?" he cried. "Well, of all the nerve! Look, Caro!"
"Jim--Mr. Pearson, I mean--ran in a few minutes ago," explained Captain
Elisha, bewildered and stammering. "He thought of course we'd had dinner
and--and--he just wanted to wish you many happy returns, Caroline."
Pearson had extended his hand and a "Good evening" was on his lips.
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