Sue—[With a shudder.] I was always afraid of them. They looked like—murderers. [At a noise from below they both start. Steps can be heard climbing the stairs. Sue jumps to her feet frightenedly.] Why—do you hear—who can that be? [There is a soft rap on the door. The Doctor jumps to his feet. Sue turns to him with a half-hysterical laugh.] Shall I open? I don’t know why—but I’m afraid.
Doctor—Tut-tut! I’ll see who it is. [He opens the door and Nat is discovered on the stairs outside.] Why hello, boy. You gave us a scare. Susan thought it was a ghost knocking.
Nat—[Comes into the room. He has aged, grown thin, his face gaunt and drawn from continual mental strain, his eyes moody and preoccupied. He glances up at the skylight apprehensively, then turns to Sue.] I didn’t find you downstairs so I—— [Then to the Doctor.] Yes, you do grow to look for ghosts in this house, don’t you? [Again glancing upward.] He’s up there as usual, I suppose—looking for a ship that’ll never, never come now!
Doctor—[With a grunt of approval.] I’m glad to hear you acknowledge that.
Sue—[Who is just recovering from her fright.] But, Nat, I didn’t expect you—— Did you find out——?
Nat—Yes, I talked with several of the men who were on board at the time. They said they steamed in so close to the schooner it was easy to read the name with the naked eye. All agreed—Sarah Allen, Harborport. They even remembered how her tafrail was painted. There’s no chance for mistake. The Sarah Allen is gone. [With great emphasis.] And I’m glad—damn glad! I feel as if a weight of lead had been taken off my brain. I feel free again, and I can go back to work—but not here. I’ve got to go away—start new altogether.
Sue—[Happily, coming and putting her arms around him.] It’s so good to hear you talk like your old self again.
Doctor—[Earnestly.] Yes, Nat, by Gad, that’s sound sense. Get out of this.
Nat—[Giving him a queer look.] I suppose you thought I was doomed, eh?—like him. [He makes a motion upward—then with an uncertain laugh.] A doctor’s always looking for trouble where there isn’t any. [In a tone of finality.] Well, it’s all over, anyway.
Sue—[Snatching the letter from the table.] Oh, I was forgetting, Nat. Read this. I got it yesterday.