rabella began to fan herself with an old
newspaper she picked up from off the table. "I never got such a shock
in all my life. I don't know what people are coming to these days when
an old man like your husband will act in such a way. I came over on
purpose to see that girl you have here, and it has nearly cost me my
life."

"Have one of these doughnuts, dear," Mrs. Britt soothed. "I shall get
you some of my home-made wine, which will make you feel better." And
the good woman bustled off to the pantry, from which she shortly
emerged with a well-filled glass.

"That does make me feel better," Miss Arabella remarked, after she had
drunk the wine and eaten two doughnuts. "That walk has certainly given
me an appetite."

"And I guess you'll feel better still when you see Whyn," Mrs. Britt
replied, as she led her visitor into the front bedroom.

The invalid girl was sitting by the open window in the big chair the
captain had fitted up for her. Her cheeks were flushed with
excitement, and her eyes were sparkling with animation. She was
holding a small signalling chart in her hands, at the same time giving
instructions to the captain outside.

"Try that again," she was saying. "Don't hold your arms so stiff.
There, that's better."

Hearing the sound of footsteps, she turned suddenly and her eyes fell
upon Miss Arabella's lank form and thin face. For an instant only she
hesitated before reaching out her delicate white hand.

"Oh, you're Miss Arabella," she exclaimed. "I'm very glad to see you,
and it's so good of you to come. Sit down, please."

"For pity's sake, how do you know who I am?" was the astonished reply.

"A little bird told me," and Whyn gave a merry laugh.

"H'm. I guess it was a bird without any feathers, and a little red
head."

"Yes, that's who it was. You see, I know most of the people in this
place, though I have met only a few. Rod told me that you were sick,
and what you look like."

"He did, did he? And I suppose he told you that I had a long nose
which was always poking into other people's business."

"Why, no!" and Whyn's face grew suddenly sober. "He never told me
anything like that. He only said that you were thin, with a sad face,
and that you were very lonely, with no one to love you."

"So he said that, did he?" and a softer expression came into the
woman's grey eyes. "But I suppose he told you a whole lot more,
though?"

"Only about how he put the key down your