“Not so loud, daughter. It is all right. Let the man pass. I’ll explain.”
Among Annabel’s charms was a certain rashness. Here she stood between affection and duty, and it would be interesting to observe the outcome. I was glad that she continued to bar my escape.
“If it’s all right,” she said, “let us three go with this man to Captain Mason and——”
“We’ll have no more nonsense, daughter! Are you aware what your attitude toward me means?”
“I don’t know, father. I—I don’t understand. You have never spoken this way to me before. Surely——”
“This foolishness must stop here,” her father brusquely said, rising and advancing, with the evident intention of dragging her from the door; but something in her face stopped him. It was time for me to interfere, lest she spoil everything. The risk was in lending my voice to her sensitive ear.
“He knows,” I gruffly said.
“Captain Mason?”
I nodded.
“Come with me and say that to him,” she demanded. I nodded again. The exasperation and fear in Mr. Vancouver’s face did not escape his daughter.