He was silent. But with one foot on the first step, she turned. “Wait, tell me—”
“Yes?”
“Tell me—have you anything to do with that revenue cutter that was in here the other day?”
“Oh, dear Annie, you mustn't ask me that.” Then she hurried into the house.
In the kitchen Captain Fargo was trying to tell his wife some half-truths, never an easy thing for him to do.
“But what is it? What's the trouble? I don't see that anything could happen here that it would hurt her to see.”
“It wouldn't hurt her, but it really would be better to take her up to Lizzie's. You and she could come back together to-morrow.”
“Oh, it's me too! Now what is all this about, anyway?”
The Captain, instead of replying, spoke to himself: “I can't believe it. There has been a mistake made. They never should have sent a boy of his age to do such work.”
“What work? Is there something you have promised not to tell me?”