"Miss Willett means before you sail," said Joan, gently, before that lady could speak. "How pleased they will be to see you!"
"Aye, aye," said the captain, regaining his composure by an effort.
"What a lot of things he will have to tell them!" murmured the persevering Miss Willett. "Have you ever seen them?" she inquired, turning to Mrs. Chinnery.
"No," was the reply.
"How strange!" said Miss Willett, with a reproachful glance at the captain. "I expect you'll like them very much when you do."
"Sure to," chimed in Mr. Truefitt. "Susanna was always partial to children."
"I'm sure she is," said Miss Willett, regarding the industrious Mrs. Chinnery affectionately. "How fortunate!"
She rose as she spoke, and, screwing her face up at Joan with great significance, asked her whether she wouldn't care to see the garden.
"Very much," said Joan. "Come along," she added, turning to the captain. "Now come and show me that rose-bush you have been talking about so much."
Captain Trimblett rose with an alacrity that mystified Miss Willett more than ever, and, having gained the garden, found so many things to show Miss Hartley, and so much to talk about, that supper was on the table before he had finished. Fearful of being left alone with Miss Willett, he stuck to his young protector so closely that in going in at the door he trod on her heel. Miss Hartley entered the room limping, and, having gained her seat, sat eying him with an expression in which pain and reproachful mirth struggled for the mastery.