“How do you know he didn't get it? Please, Mother, don't worry about me. I am all right. How do you know John didn't get my letter, Father?”
“I know because.... Is that a wagon stoppin' at our gate, Serena?”
“Never mind if it is. Answer Gertie's question. HOW do you know?”
Steps sounded on the front porch. Captain Dan strode to the hall and stood with one hand on the knob of the front door.
“I know,” he declared triumphantly, “because I telephoned John this very day and he told me so. And now, by the everlastin', he'll tell you so himself!”
He flung the door wide.
“Come in, John!” he shouted, in a roar which was heard even by deaf old Ebenezer Simpkins, driver of the depot wagon, who was just piloting his ancient steed from the Dott gate. “Come in, John!” roared Captain Dan. “There she is, in there, waitin' for you.”
And Mr. Doane came, you may be sure.
Serena and Daniel waited in the dining-room. They were obliged to wait for some time. The captain's triumphant exuberance continued to bubble over. He chuckled and laughed and crowed vaingloriously over his success in keeping the secret ever since noon.
“I was bound I wouldn't tell, Serena,” he declared. “I was bound I wouldn't. I told John over the 'phone; I said: 'I won't tell a soul you're comin', John. We'll give 'em one surprise, won't we.' And, ho! ho! he didn't believe I could keep it to myself; he said he didn't. But I did, I did—though I felt all afternoon as if I had a bombshell under my jacket.”