"Oh, yes, of course there are women. Three of them. Mrs. Cora Bassett, Eliphalet's brother's wife, she is 'Mrs. Gale,' my mother, only she turns out not to be; and Fannie Wingate, she is the rich city girl; and Elizabeth. That makes the three."
"Yes, yes, so it does. But which Elizabeth are you talkin' about?"
"Why, Elizabeth Berry. My—our Elizabeth, over here at the Fair Harbor."
The quick change from "my" to "our" was so quick as to be almost imperceptible, but the captain noticed it. He looked up and Kent, catching his eye, colored slightly. Sears noticed the color, also, but his tone, when he spoke, was quite casual.
"Oh," he said. "So Elizabeth's in it, too, is she? Well, well! What part does she take?"
"She's 'Kitty Gale,' my sweetheart."
"You don't say. She's good, I'll bet."
"Wonderful!" Kent's enthusiasm was unrestrained. "You wouldn't believe any untrained girl could act as she does. She might have been born for the part, honestly she might."
"Um-hm.... Well, maybe she was."
"Eh? I beg your pardon."