"Charles and I both are. But he isn't a pirate any more and he's really quite nice. Besides, he's going to sing to you."
"You tell him to go away—far away. I've barricaded the window and I have my sharp scissors. I warn you, if he makes one false move—"
"This is where I came in," remarked Charles.
The captain settled back, tuned his guitar, and started to sing in a warm bass-baritone, with Herman whistling a tenor obbligato through his nose. Betty and Charles thought the effect was charming, even if Herman did tend to go a bit flat on the high notes.
First, the captain sang Down by the Old Mill Stream and Sweet Genevieve. Then he tried a number of sentimental arias from the more respectable operas, and The Lost Chord, and several other old favorites.
Occasionally, Cousin Aurelia sniffed loudly, but she said nothing until his serenade came to an end.
"Betty!" she called. "Can you hear me?"