“You've shown 'em already. Land of love! I should say you had.”
“Give me time and I'll show you more. We have only begun.... Why, what's the matter? What made you look that way?”
“Oh, nothin', nothin'. Only your sayin' we'd only begun reminded me of—of other things. I don't suppose I'll ever hear 'only begun' without shiverin'. Humph! there's some kind of beginnin's I hope I'll never hear of again. Gertie been in this mornin', has she? She isn't in the house.”
“No, I saw her go down street a little while ago. Gone for her morning walk, perhaps. How is Mrs. Dott to-day?”
“Fine. Tip top. I ain't seen her so satisfied with life for two months or more. She's gettin' better every minute.”
“That's good. Contented to be back in Trumet, is she?”
“Seems to be. I am; you can bet high on that.”
“And—er—Gertie, is she contented, too?”
This question touched directly the one uncertainty, the one uncomfortable doubt in the captain's mind. He looked keenly at the questioner.
“What makes you ask that?” he demanded.