But Miss Dawes paid no attention to trivialities. She seemed much agitated. “Cap'n Whittaker,” she began, “I just heard something that--” The captain interrupted her. “Excuse me,” he said, “but I think we'll pull down the curtains and have a little light on the subject. It gets dark early now, especially of a gray day like this one.” He drew the shades at the windows and lit the lamp on the table. The red glow behind the panes of the stove door faded into insignificance as the yellow radiance brightened. The ugly portraits and the stiff old engravings on the wall retired into a becoming dusk. The old-fashioned room became more homelike. “Now won't you sit down?” repeated Captain Cy. “Take that rocker; it's the most comf'table one aboard--so Bos'n says, anyhow.” Miss Phoebe took the rocker, under protest. Her host remained standing. “It's been a nice afternoon,” he said. “Bos'n--Emmie, of course--and I have been for a walk. 'Twan't her fault, 'twas mine. I kept her out of school. I was--well, kind of lonesome.” The teacher's gray eyes flashed in the lamplight. “Cap'n Whittaker,” she cried, “please don't waste time. I didn't come here to talk about the weather nor Emily's reason for not attending school. I don't care why she was absent. But I have just heard of what happened at that meeting. Is it true that--” She hesitated. “That Emmie's dad is alive and here? Yes, it's true.” “But--but that man last night? Was he THAT man?” The captain nodded. “That's the man,” he said briefly. Miss Dawes shuddered. “Cap'n Whittaker,” she asked earnestly, “are you sure he is really her father? Absolutely sure?” “Sure and sartin.” “Then she belongs to him, doesn't she? Legally, I mean?” “Maybe so.” “Are--are you going to give her up to him?” “No.” “Then what I heard was true. You did say at the meeting that you were going to do your best to keep him from getting her.” “Um--hum! What I said amounts to just about that.” “Why?” Captain Cy was surprised and a little disappointed apparently. “Why?” he repeated. “Yes. Why?” “Well, for reasons I've got.” “Do you mind telling me the reasons?” “I cal'late you don't want to hear 'em. If you don't understand now, then I can't make it much plainer, I'm afraid.” The little lady sprang to her feet. “Oh, you are provoking!” she cried indignantly. “Can't you see that I want to hear the reasons from you yourself? Cap'n Whittaker, I shook hands with you last night.” “You remember I told you you'd better wait.”