"Coming, Captain Dott," he said. "For me, is it?"
"Yes. A telegram for you. What--good land, Gertie! you up, too?"
Gertrude, in kimono and cap, was leaning over the rail. "What is it?" she asked quickly.
John announced, "A wire for me," he said. "I'm afraid--" He tore open the envelope. "Yes, I thought so. Mr. Griffin is worse and they want me at once. Every minute counts, they say. I must go--now. When is the next train for Boston, Captain?"
Daniel was very much flustered. "I don't know," he stammered. "There's a time-table around on deck somewheres, but--you ain't goin' now, John? To-night?"
"Yes, I must."
Gertrude hastened to find the time-table. John turned to the messenger.
"Know anything about Boston trains?" he asked.
"Yup. Two-twenty express through from New York. That's the next."
John stepped to the drawing-room and looked at the clock. "I can get it, I think," he announced. "I must. If I can get a cab--"
"I'll 'phone for one. But--but, John, you hadn't ought to--"
"Any answer?" demanded the messenger boy, intent on business.
"Yes. Say that I am leaving on the two-twenty. On the two-twenty. Got that, have you?"
"Sure, Mike! Prepay or collect?"
"I'll--I'll pay it, John." Captain Dan reached under his bathrobe. "Hey!" he exclaimed. "I declare I forgot I didn't have on--All right, John, I'll pay it. You go get ready."
Mr. Doane was on his way to his room. Daniel hurried after him, a difficult progress, for the slippers and bathrobe made hurrying decidedly clumsy. He located his trousers and the loose change in their pockets, explaining the situation to Serena as he did so. He and his wife descended the stairs together. The captain paid the messenger and hastened to telephone for the cab.
When the vehicle arrived, John was ready. His farewells to Daniel and Serena were hurried ones.
"I'm awfully sorry I can't stop longer," he declared. "I really shouldn't have come at all, under the circumstances. I--"
He paused. Gertrude was standing by the door. She was very grave and her eyes looked as if she had not slept. John went over to her; he, too, was grave.
"Gertie," he faltered, "Gertie--"
Serena interrupted. "Daniel!" she said, "Daniel!"
The captain looked at her. She frowned and motioned with her head. The light of understanding dawned in her husband's eyes.
"Hey? Oh, yes!" he cried hastily. "Come into the front room, Serena, just a minute. I want to speak to you."
They entered the drawing-room together. Gertrude and John were alone. For a moment neither spoke. Then the young man, bending forward, whispered: "Gertie," he asked anxiously, "aren't you--haven't you anything to say to me?"
"I thought, perhaps, you had something to say to me, John."
"I have. Gertie, I--"
There was a sound from above. Cousin Percy Hungerford, fully dressed and debonnair as always, was descending the stairs.
"What's the row?" he drawled. "I heard the racket and decided the house must be on fire. What's up?"
Whatever else was "up" it was quite plain John was sorry that Mr. Hungerford was up because of it. His tone was decidedly chilly as he answered.
"A wire for me," he said shortly. "I'm called to Boston at once."
"Really! How extraordinary! It wasn't a fire then, merely a false alarm. Sorry to have you go, Doane, I'm sure."
He spoke as if he were the host whose gracious pleasure it had been to entertain the guest during the latter's stay. John resented the tone.
"Thanks," he said crisply. "Gertie, I--I hope--"
He hesitated. It was not easy to speak in the presence of a third person, particularly this person. Cousin Percy did not hesitate.
"Gertie," he observed, "your--er--friend is leaving us at the wrong time, isn't he? There's so much going on this coming week. Really, Doane, you're fortunate, in a sense. Miss Dott and I are finding the social whirl a bit tiresome; you will escape that, at least."
Captain Dan appeared at the entrance to the drawing-room.
"I say, Hungerford! Percy!" he hailed impatiently.
Mr. Hungerford did not seem to hear him. He was regarding Miss Dott with anxious concern.
"Really, Gertrude," he said, "I shouldn't stand by that open door, if I were you. You have a slight cold and for--all our sakes--you must be careful. Step inside, I beg of you."
His begging was so tender, so solicitous, so intimate. John Doane's fists clenched.
"Hi!" It was the cabman calling from the street. "Hi! we've only got twelve minutes to catch that train."
John turned, involuntarily, toward the door. Gertrude, startled by the cabman's voice and aware of the need of haste, stepped to one side. Cousin Percy chose to put his own interpretation upon her movement.
"Thank you, Gertrude," he said feelingly. "That's better; you will be out of the draft there. Thank you."
John Doane, who was still hesitating, hesitated no longer. He seized his bag.
"Good-by, all," he said, in a choked voice. "Good-by, Captain Dott."
He strode through the doorway. Gertrude, for a moment, remained where she was. Then she followed him.
"John!" she cried, "John!"
John, half way down the steps, halted, turned, and looked up at her.
"Good-by, Gertie," he said.
"But, John, are you--aren't you--"
She stretched out her hands. Mr. Hungerford, pushing by the captain and Serena, stepped in front of her.
"Here, you!" he shouted, addressing the cabman; "what are you thinking about? Why don't you take the gentleman's bag?"
The driver sprang to get the bag, incidentally he seized his prospective passenger by the arm.
"Come on!" he shouted. "Come on! We'll miss the train. Ten to one we've missed it, anyhow."
"Oh, DO hurry, John!" cried Serena, anxiously. "You WILL miss it. You MUST go!"
And Mr. Doane went. The cab rattled away up the street, the old horse galloping, the driver shouting, and the whip cracking. Daniel drew a long breath.
"Well!" he said slowly, "he's gone. Yes, sir, he's gone, ain't he."
Serena turned on him.
"Yes, he's gone," she observed sarcastically, "but he isn't going very fast. Why in the world didn't you order an electric cab instead of that Noah's Ark? Half the neighbors have been waked up and they'll see it. How many times must I tell you? You NEVER learn!"
"Well, now, Serena--"
"Don't talk to me! Don't! My nerves are all of a twitter. I--I--oh, do let me go to bed! Gertie--why, Gertie, where are you going?"
Gertrude was on her way to the stairs. She did not appear to hear her mother's question.
"Gertie!" cried Serena again.
There was