“I don’t intend to do so, sir. I never yet deserted those who used me well, and I don’t intend to begin now. If you think you cannot trust me, sir, don’t do it.”
The time for starting having arrived, the conversation, which did not promise very agreeable results, was interrupted. The band struck up its music, and the Ucayga left the wharf. I went into my stateroom for the purpose of being alone a moment, for I wanted to think over what the colonel had just said to me. He was evidently jealous of anything like intimacy between the Toppletons and myself, and was afraid I would “sell out” the steamboat company. I was not flattered by the suspicion. I considered the subject very faithfully; but I decided that it was unreasonable in my present patron to insist that I should have nothing to do with the Toppletons. As long as Grace lived and smiled upon me, I could assent to nothing of the kind, even if I lost my situation. At the same time, I intended to be true to my employers, even if Grace ceased to smile upon me for doing so.
On the up trip the Ucayga was even uncomfortably crowded; for, besides the excursion party, we had a large number of through passengers. But, as soon as the boat was clear of the wharf, they began to settle down, and to cease to crowd each other. The band played splendidly, and everybody seemed to be satisfied. At Centreport we left the crowd, though the boat was still well filled. The program of the preceding day was repeated. We passed the old Ruoara near Gulfport, and arrived at Hitaca a little before the time in my table. As we had kept all our promises, the new line was in high favor with the public.
The next morning, the old boat departed with hardly a corporal’s guard of passengers, while the Ucayga was crowded. We landed our freight at Ucayga on time, and everybody was satisfied that the new line was an assured success. I need not follow its triumphs any further, for it would be only a repetition of what has already been said. The steamboat line was carrying nearly all the passengers. The old-line boats had hardly business enough to pay for the oil used on the machinery, though the Lake Shore Railroad did tolerably well with its local trade.
When the Ucayga arrived at Centreport, on the day after the excursion, I crossed the lake; and, after a short visit to my mother, I hastened to the mansion of Major Toppleton. I was not only curious to know what the major wanted of me, but I was thirsting for the opportunity to meet Grace. The latter motive was doubtless the stronger one; for, since the poor girl had risked so much to give me warning of the intended arrest, I flattered myself that she was not wholly indifferent to me.
With a fluttering heart I rang the bell at the door of Major Toppleton’s house. I was admitted to the library. Neither the great man nor his son was at home; but the servant assured me they would soon return, for it wanted but a few minutes of lunch-time. I ventured to ask if Miss Grace was at home. I knew she was, for I heard the piano in one of the neighboring rooms, and the music was so sweet I was sure no hands but hers could produce it. In a moment she entered the library, her soft cheeks crimsoned with a blush, which made me feel exceedingly awkward.
“Why, Mr. Wolf! I am so glad to see you!” said she; and, in the enthusiasm of the moment, she advanced toward me, and gave me her hand.
“I’m sure you cannot be as glad to see me as I am to see you,” I replied, pressing the little hand in mine.
Dear me! What was I doing? Straightway I began to feel very queer and awkward, and cheap and mean. She was confused, and apparently astonished by the boldness of my remark, for she retired to a sofa on the other side of the room. I was beginning to thank her for the great service she had rendered me on Monday, when Major Toppleton and Tommy, whom the stupid servant had taken the trouble to summon, entered the library. I wished they had deferred their coming for half an hour. Both of them seemed to be very glad to see me, and took no notice of the presence of Grace. To my astonishment, the magnate invited me to lunch with him. I had not the courage to refuse, or, in other words, to banish myself from the presence of Grace.
“Wolf, we had just nine passengers from Hitaca this morning,” said the major, with a chuckling laugh, as though he intended to make the best of his discomfiture.