In silence the two got their supper, in silence they ate it. Once Keturah Smiley sighed, once she spoke, but only to say: “Thank the Lord, John will be coming over to-morrow!”
Mermaid, who had been looking forward to this visit of her Dad, thinking he might give her a scooter ride on the smoothly frozen bay, said: “How rich do you suppose Cap’n Vanton is, Miss Smiley?”
Keturah looked at her absently.
“Not rich enough to buy an easy conscience, probably,” she replied, drily. Mermaid hesitated, and then took her courage in both hands.
“Miss Smiley, I heard some of what he said. I—I guess I heard most of it,” she said.
Keturah showed neither surprise nor anger. She looked at Mermaid attentively and there was a flicker of interest in her eyes as she asked: “Well, and what did you make of it?”
“He said he’d killed a Captain King!” the girl blurted out. “How could he do that and not be in jail for it?”
“Maybe he has been,” Keturah suggested.
“But then how could he be so rich?” persisted Mermaid.
“Maybe it isn’t his money,” Miss Smiley replied.