"Mary," says I, "what's the matter? Ain't sick, are you?"
"Oh, no!" says she. "I—I didn't sleep well, that's all. I'm all right."
"But, Mary," I says, "I—"
"Please excuse me, Cap'n Zeb," she cut in. "I'm very busy."
She'd never used that tone to me afore, and I was set back about forty mile. Why she should be so frosty I couldn't see. I went out to the platform and paced the quarter deck, thinkin'. I was down at the heel anyway, and I thought a whole lot of fool things. I was goin' to lose my job and so I s'posed that, after all, I'd ought to expect my friends to shake me. There's a proverb about rats leavin' a leaky vessel. But Mary Blaisdell!! I cal'late I come as nigh wishin' I was dead as ever I did in my life.
'Twas almost eleven afore the Peters man showed up. He was walkin' brisk and smilin' a little.
"Well," says I, "you're lookin' a heap more chipper than I feel. What are you grinnin' about?"
"Oh, just for instance," he says. "Is Miss Blaisdell in the office?"
"Guess so. She was awhile ago. Yes, she's there. Why?"
"I want to see her—and you, too. Come on."