“I wants to see her now, Mammy. I wants to see her to wanst,” wailed Tommy, losing his shyness when confronted with the dread possibility of having to wait all through the hours until morning. “I wants to see her now, Mammy,” and his voice rose higher.
The naval officer’s wife held her daughter’s hand and tightened her lips. “He seems to be an undisciplined child,” she said, and went down to the sitting-room where supper was spread.
While Tommy sobbed in his pillow Mrs. Tregennis spoke out her mind to her husband. “A blessin’ she may be, I’m not for sayin’ that she isn’t when I think of good money for two whole years. But she be a blessin’ in a thick disguise, Tom, so there ’tis, an’ can’t be no tizzer. Miss Annabel! Miss, mind you, Thomas Tregennis. I reckon she be just like her mother though she be but a maid of five years old. Well, I be main sorry for ’e. ’Tis proper glad he’ll be to be away these two years, I’m thinkin’. Real glad he be, I guess.”
When Tommy returned from school the following morning a sallow, lank-haired girl stood in the doorway of the downstairs sitting-room.
“Come here, boy,” she demanded imperiously.
Tommy looked at the unattractive stranger a full minute without speaking; then—“Go out of my house,” he said.
Two mothers rushed hurriedly forward.
“Tommy, Tommy,” cried Mrs. Tregennis, “that do be Miss Annabel.”
“What a rude boy!” said the naval officer’s wife.