"Tell me where Mollie is at once, or I shall jump out of my berth. Is she—is she—"
"She is in her room, captain. Don't be worried about her," replied Noddy, who was afraid that the truth would have a bad effect upon the devoted father. "She laid down a little while ago."
"Is she dead?" gasped the captain, with a mighty effort to utter the appalling word.
"O, no, sir! She was taken sick a little while ago."
"O, mercy!" groaned the sick man. "I know it all now."
"It's no use to deny it, sir. She has got the fever."
"And I lay here helpless!"
"She said she felt a little better when I came out. I gave her the medicine, and did everything for her."
"I must go to her."
"You will worry her to death, if you do, captain. She is more troubled about you than she is about herself. If you lay still, so I can report that you are doing well, it will be the best thing in the world for her. It will do her more good than the medicine."