She hastened over to where Serena was standing and extended her hand.
“How do you do, Mrs. Dott?” she said pleasantly. “Welcome to Scarford. You and I have never met, of course, but I used to know Mrs. Lavinia Dott very well indeed. And this is Mr. Dott, I suppose. How do you do? And here is my husband. Oscar, these are our new neighbors.”
Mr. Fenholtz and the captain shook hands. Captain Dan felt his embarrassment disappearing under the influence of that hearty shake.
“I suppose you scarcely expected callers—or calls from strangers—so soon,” went on Mrs. Fenholtz. “But, you see, I hope we shan't be strangers after this. I couldn't bear to think of you all alone here in this great house in a strange place, and so I told Oscar that he and I must run in. We live near here, only on the next corner.”
“I said you would be having your after-dinner smoke, Mr. Dott,” explained the Honorable, with a smile and a Teutonic accent. “I said you would wish we was ouid instead of in; but Olga would not have it so. And, when the women say yes, we don't say no. Eh; what is the use?” He chuckled.
Captain Dan grinned. “That's right,” he said. “No use for the fo'mast hand to contradict the skipper.”
Mrs. Black stepped forward.
“How do you do, Mrs. Fenholtz?” she said with unction.
“Dear me!” exclaimed Serena. “I—I'm forgetting everything. But you know Mr. and Mrs. Black, don't you, Mrs. Fenholtz?”
Mrs. Fenholtz turned.