She didn't believe she did.
"Well," he persisted, "that's it."
"That's what?"
"Why," said Watson, whose only aim was to set her once more at ease, "that's the p'int you——"
"Humph." She turned to the two ladies, who, with their eyes frankly below, were counselling together. "Let's go down there ourselves," she said, but they whispered on.
"Better not," put in Watson; "you can't help."
His kind intent did not keep the words from hurting. With a faint toss she said:
"I hoped we might be some hindrance."
She laughed in her old manner, dropped her glance again on the two men and the four, and hearkened. So did the two ladies beside her. They could all see who spoke below and could hear each voice in turn, though they could not catch what was said. The only sustained speeches were the senator's. The general's interpellations were little regarded. The silent pair at the bell heard everything of essential bearing.
The consciously belated senator had begun with rhetorical regrets for the captain's and the commodore's illness and with paternal enthusiasm for those on whom it had brought such grave new cares. His own sympathetic share in their anxieties, he had hurried on to say, had robbed him of sleep and driven him up here solely for this interview. On the way he had chanced upon the general in the——