His friend nodded. “She has been a great help, certainly,” he answered. “But I can’t help feeling guilty every time I come here. It is too much like obtaining her friendship under false pretenses. She should know the whole thing, I believe.”
“She shall know it, when I think it’s time for her to. But I want her to know you first. Then she’ll be able to judge without so much prejudice. I told you I’d take the responsibility. You leave the ship in my charge for a spell.”
In spite of this confident assertion, the captain also felt a trifle guilty. He realized that selfishness was involved in his keeping Pearson’s secret from his niece. He was thoroughly enjoying himself with these two, and he could not bear to risk the breaking up which might follow disclosure.
One evening, while a “clinic” was in progress and the three were deep in consultation, Edwards entered to announce Mrs. Corcoran Dunn and Mr. Malcolm. The butler’s giving the lady precedence in his announcing showed that he, too, realized who was ranking officer in that family, even though the captain’s “conundrum” had puzzled him. Mrs. Dunn and her son entered at his heels.
“She and the young man became better aquainted at each succeeding ‘literary clinic.’”
The lady took in the group by the table at a glance: Pearson, with the manuscript in his hands; Captain Elisha leaning back in his chair, frowning at the interruption; Caroline rising to welcome the guests, and coloring slightly as she did so. All these details Mrs. Dunn noted, made an entry in her mental memorandum-book, and underscored it for future reference.
If she discerned unpleasant possibilities in the situation, she did not allow them to disturb her outward serenity. She kissed Caroline and called her “dear child” as fondly as usual, shook hands graciously with Captain Elisha, and bowed condescending recognition of Pearson.
“And how is the novel coming on? Do tell me!” she begged. “I’m sure we interrupted a reading. It’s too bad of us, really! But Malcolm insisted upon coming. He has been very busy of late—some dreadful ‘corner’ or other on the exchange—and has neglected his friends—or thinks he has. I told him I had explained it all to you, Caroline, but he would come to-night. It is the first call he has made in weeks; so you see! But there! he doesn’t consider running in here a call.”
Call or not, it spoiled the evening for at least two of the company. Pearson left early. Captain Elisha excused himself soon after and went to his room, leaving the Dunns to chat with Caroline for an hour or more. Malcolm joked and was languid and cynical. His mother asked a few carefully guarded questions.