him? Look at him! What do you mean by assaultin' him that way?"
"What do I mean? When a man comes home from sea and finds another man kissin' his wife, what would he be likely to mean?"
Daniel could not answer. He looked about him in absolute bewilderment. Gertrude choked and turned away.
"Kissin'!" repeated Captain Dan. "Kissin' your wife? Kissin' ZUBA! I--I--am I crazy, or are you, or--or is he?"
Apparently he judged the last surmise to be the most likely. Cousin Percy, frantic with rage and humiliation, tried to protest.
"It's a lie!" he cried. "It's a lie!"
The captain turned to his housekeeper.
"Zuba," he demanded, "what sort of lunatic business is this? Do you know?"
Azuba straightened.
"I don't know much," she announced sharply. "All I know is that I come upstairs in the dark and he grabbed me and--and said somethin' about my payin' him--and then he--he--done the other thing. That's all I know, and it's enough. Don't talk to ME! I never was so surprised and mortified in MY life."
"But--but what's it mean? Can't anybody tell me, for the Lord sakes?"
Gertrude stepped forward. "I think I understand," she said. "Our cousin made a mistake, that's all. I will explain at another time, Daddy. If--if you will all go away, he and I will have an interview. I think I can settle it better than anyone else. Go, please. I'm sure Mother needs you."
The mention of his wife caused her father to forget everything else, even his overwhelming curiosity.
"My soul!" he cried. "She heard this; and--and I left her all alone."
He bolted up the stairs. Gertrude's next remark was addressed to the housekeeper.
"Azuba," she said, "would you and your husband mind leaving us? Perhaps you'd better not go to bed. I--I may need Mr. Ginn later on; perhaps I may. But if you and he were to go down to the kitchen and wait just a few moments I should be so much obliged. Will you?"
Azuba hesitated.
"Leave you?" she repeated. "With--with him?"
"Yes. I have something to say to him. Something important."
She and Azuba exchanged looks. The latter nodded.
"All right," she said decisively; "course we'll go. Come, Labe."
But Laban seemed loath to move.
"I ain't got through with him yet," he observed. "I'd only begun."
"You come with me. Have you forgot all I told you so soon? Come!"
"Hey? No; no, I ain't forgot. Is this part of it?"
"Part of it's part of it; the rest ain't. You come, 'fore you do any more spilin'. Come, now."
Mr. Ginn went. At the head of the back stairs he paused.
"You'll sing out if you need me?" he asked. "You will, won't you? You'll only have to sing once."
He tramped heavily down. Gertrude walked over to the victim of the "mistake" and its consequences.
"I think," she said coldly, "that you had better go."
"Go?" Mr. Hungerford looked at her. "Go?" he repeated.
"Yes. I give you this opportunity. There will not be another. Go to your room, change your clothes, pack your trunk, and go--now, to-night."
"What do you mean? That I am to go--and not come back?"
"Yes."
"But, Gertrude--Gertie--"
"Don't call me that. Don't DARE to speak to me in that tone. Go--now."
"But, Ger--Miss Dott, I--I--don't you see it was all a mistake? I--"
"Stop! I am trying very hard to keep my temper. We have had scenes enough to-night. My mother is ill and she must not be disturbed again. If you do not go to your room and pack and leave at once, I shall call Mr. Ginn and have you put out, just as you are. I am giving you that opportunity. You had better avail yourself of it. I mean what I say."
She looked as if she did. Cousin Percy evidently thought so. His humbleness disappeared.
"So?" he snarled angrily. "So that's it, eh? What do you think I am?"
Gertrude's eyes flashed. She bit her lip. When she spoke it was with deliberate distinctness. Every word was as sharp and cold as an icicle.
"Do you wish to know what I think you are?" she asked. "What I thought at the very beginning you were, and what I have been taking pains to make sure of ever since I came to this house? Very well, I'll tell you."
She told him, slowly, calmly, and with biting exactness. His face was flushed when she began; when she finished it was white.
"That is what you are," she said. "I do not merely think so. I have studied you carefully; I have stooped to associate with you in order to study you; I have studied you through your friends; I KNOW what you are."
His anger and mortification were choking him.
"You--you--" he snarled. "So that is it, is it? You have been using me as a good thing. As a--as a--"
"As you have used my father and mother and their simple-minded goodness and generosity. Yes, I have."
"You have been making a fool of me! And Holway--confound him--"
"Mr. Holway was useful. He helped. And he, too, understands, now."
"By--by gad--I--I won't go. I'll--"
Gertrude walked to the rear of the hall.
"Mr. Ginn!" she called, "will you come, please?"
Laban came. He looked happy and expectant.
"Here I be," he observed eagerly.
"Mr. Ginn," said Gertrude, "this--gentleman--is going to his room for a few minutes. He is preparing to leave us. If he doesn't come down and leave this house in a reasonable time will you kindly assist him? He will, no doubt, send for his trunks to-morrow. But he must go to-night. He must. Do you understand, Mr. Ginn?"
Laban grinned. "I cal'late I do," he said. "Zuba's been tellin' me some. He'll go."
"Thank you. Good-night!"
She ascended the stairs. The first mate looked at his watch.
"Fifteen minutes is enough to pack any trunk," he observed. "I'll give you that much. Now, them, tumble up. Lively!"
At the door of her parents' room Gertrude rapped softly. Captain Dan opened it and showed a pallid, agitated face.
"She's mighty sick, Gertie," he declared. "I wish you'd telephone for the doctor."
CHAPTER XIV
The doctor came, stayed for some time and, after administering a sleeping draught and ordering absolute quiet for his patient, departed, saying that he would come again in the morning. He did so and, before leaving, took Captain Dan and Gertrude into his confidence.
"It is a complete collapse," he said gravely. "Mrs. Dott is worn out, physically and mentally. She must be kept quiet, she must not worry about anything, she must remain in bed, and she must see no one. If she does this, if she rests--really rests--we may fight off nervous prostration. If she does not--anything may happen. With your permission I shall send a nurse."
The permission was