“Certainly it's true. I supposed you knew it. You didn't seem surprised when I told you the case was settled.”
“Surprised? Why, no! I thought Heman had—Never mind that. Land of love! SHE did it. She!”
He sat weakly down. The lawyer looked anxious.
“Mr. Tidditt,” he whispered, “I think perhaps he had better be left alone for the present. He's just up from a sick bed, and this has been a trying forenoon. Come in again this afternoon. I shall try to persuade him to take a nap.”
The Board of Strategy, its curiosity unsatisfied, departed reluctantly. When Mr. Peabody returned to the sitting room he found that naps were far, indeed, from the captain's thoughts. The latter was pacing the sitting-room floor.
“Where is she?” he demanded. “She was standin' on the steps with Heman. Have you seen her since?”
His friend was troubled.
“Why, yes, I've seen her,” he said. “I have been talking with her. She has gone away.”
“Gone AWAY! Where? What do you mean? She ain't—ain't left Bayport?”
“No, no. What in the world should she leave Bayport for? She has gone to her boarding house, I guess; at all events, she was headed in that direction.”