"Today's the fourteenth," replied Old Captain. "What of it?"
"I'm worried," said Jeanne. "I came to make a visit, but I haven't heard a word from Aunt Agatha or my grandfather about going back, or anything. Of course, I ought to be in school."
"There's a good school here. You have clothes—an' can get more."
"I don't want to go back to Aunt Agatha, you know. I'm sure she's very angry at me for running away. It took her a long, long time to get over it after I went swimming in the fountain. I suppose this is worse."
"Well, this here weren't exactly your fault."
"I'm bothered about my grandfather, too. I've written to him four times and I haven't heard a word."
"You told them about your father—"
"No," confessed Jeanne, "I didn't. I couldn't write about it to Aunt Agatha—she despised him. And I heard James say that any bad news or anything very sudden would—would bring on another one of those strokes. Of course they think I'm with daddy—I didn't think of that. I didn't mean to deceive anybody."
"Well," said Old Captain, "I guess your idee of not startling your gran'-daddy was all right. But you'd better write your Aunt Agathy, some day, an' tell her about your father. There's no hurry. I'd ruther you stayed right here."
"And I'd rather stay."