The captain, who had scarcely taken his eyes off her since her arrival at the house, drew a long breath.
“Glad to see you!” he repeated. “I never was more glad to see anybody in MY life. How'd you happen to come so soon? We weren't expectin' you for a week.”
“I hadn't expected to come, but I changed my mind. Now tell me all about yourself. How are you, and how's Mother? And how are you getting on? Mother has gone to the Chapter meeting, you say. Did she go alone?”
“No, she didn't go alone. That—Cousin Percy went with her.”
“Cousin Percy? Oh, you mean Mr. Hungerford. Do you call him Cousin Percy? How funny!”
She seemed much amused. Her father smiled, but it was a rather sheepish smile.
“'Tis kind of funny, I suppose,” he admitted. “I don't know as he really is a cousin. Fact is, I guess he ain't any real relation.”
“Of course he isn't. He was Aunt Lavinia's second cousin, or something like that, but she was only your aunt by marriage. I don't see why you should speak of him as 'Cousin Percy.' Did he ask you to?”
“No-o; I don't know as he did. But, you see, he always calls your mother Cousin Serena and me Cousin Daniel, and—and—well, I guess we've kind of got into the habit. Your mother began it and, now that he's been here so long, I've caught the disease, I shouldn't wonder.”
“Long! Why, he hasn't been here more than a month, has he?”