“I forgive you, Miss Calvert, and trust you have not so impaired your faculties that your work will fall below its usual standard to-night,” said the manager.
“I have not, I assure you. We were very comfortable in the berths, and put in some good time sleeping between midnight and morning. Molly will tell you that we have no reason for feeling badly.”
“Indeed, no, and Dorothy will be in perfect trim, Mr. Ludlow.”
“Your assurance makes my mind perfectly easy,” was his reply.
“But vhy didn’t you let us know?” Herr Deichenberg asked excitedly. “Vhy? Vhy?”
“Because the yacht was not equipped with a wireless apparatus, I suppose,” Jim Barlow put in, rather testily. “She has done the best she knew how, sir, and that’s all anyone can do.”
“Truly spoken, my boy,” replied the Herr, laying a kindly hand on his shoulder. “You must not mind me; I am a little nervous—dat iss all.”
“The nervousness will pass away now the truant has returned,” Aunt Betty assured him.
Frau Deichenberg, who approached at that moment, nodded, smiling:
“Ah, madame, dat iss true. You must not mind him. He iss like dat vhenever anyt’ing goes wrong. But he means not’ing—not’ing!” She extended her hand. “I am glad to see you safely back.”