“Yes,” she said. “I gathered as much from what you said when we first met.”
She herself had said one or two things on that occasion. Captain Cy remembered them distinctly.
“Yes, yes,” he said hastily. “Well, my doin's that time wasn't exactly the best sample of the care, I will say. Wan't even a fair sample, maybe. I try to do my best with the child, long as she stays with me, and—er—and—er—I'm pretty particular about her health.”
“I'm glad to hear it.”
“Yes. Now, Miss Phoebe, I appreciate what you did for Bos'n and me that Sunday, and I'm thankful for it. I've tried to thank—”
“I know. Please don't say any more about it. I imagine there is something else you want to say, isn't there?”
“Why, yes, there is. I—I heard that Emmie had been kept after school. I didn't believe it, of course, but I thought I'd run up and see what—”
He hesitated. The teacher finished the sentence for him.
“To see if it was true?” she said. “It is. I told her to stay and write fifty lines.”
“You did? Well, now that's what I wanted to speak to you about. Course I ain't interferin' in your affairs, you know, but I just wanted to explain about Bos'n—Emmie, I mean. She ain't a common child; she's got too much head for the rest of her. If you'd lived with her same as I have you'd appreciate it. Her health's delicate.”