My boy had ironed my trousers, that is to say, the trousers I had
given him the year previous, and which he now had loaned to me, my
extremity being greater than his own. He had laundered my collars--a
most useful boy, my China boy. I had, moreover, delving in Cal
Davidson's wardrobe, discovered yet another waistcoat, if possible
more radiant even than the one with pink stripes, for that it was
cross hatched with bars of pale pea green and mauve--I know not from
what looms he obtained these wondrous fabrics. Thus bravely attired
after breakfast, just before luncheon, indeed, it was, I felt
emboldened to call upon the captive ladies once more. With much shame
I owned that I had not seen Auntie Lucinda for nearly two days--and
with much trepidation, also, for I knew not what new bitterness her
soul, meantime, might have distilled into venom against my coming.
I knocked at the door of the ladies' cabin, the aftermost suite on the
boat, and, at first, had no answer. The door, naturally, on a boat of
this size, would be low, the roof rising above decks no higher than
one's waist; and as I bent to knock again, the door of the companion
stairs was suddenly thrust open against my face, and framed in the
opening thus made, there appeared the august visage of Auntie Lucinda
herself.
"Well, sir-r-r-r!" said she, after a time, regarding me sternly. I can
by no means reproduce the awfulness of her "r's."
"Yes, madam?" I replied mildly, holding my nose, which had been
smitten by the door.
She made no answer, but stood, a basilisk in mien.
"I just came, my dear Mrs. Daniver," I began, "to ask you----"
"And time you did, sir-r-r-r! I was just coming to ask you----"
"And time you did, my dear Mrs. Daniver--I have missed you so much,
these several days. So I just called to ask for your health."
"You need not trouble about my health!"
"But I do, I do, madam! I give you my word, I was awake all night,
thinking of--of your neuralgia. Neuralgia is something--something
fierce, in a manner of speech--if one has it in the morning, my dear
Mrs. Daniver."
"Don't 'dear Mrs. Daniver' me! I'm not your dear Mrs. Daniver at all."
"Then whose dear Mrs. Daniver are you, my dear Mrs. Daniver?" I
rejoined most impudently.
"If the poor dear Admiral were alive," said she, sniffing, "you should
repent those words!"
"I wish the poor dear Admiral were here," said I. "I should like to
ask an abler sailorman than Peterson what to do, with the glass
falling as it is, and the holding ground none too good for an anchor.
I thought it just as well to come and tell you to prepare for the
worst."