I_ expected you, didn't I? And, by the everlastin', I
think I had a right to expect you! I'm your husband, ain't I? Seems to
me I am entitled to a little of your society."

"I can't help it, Daniel. The Chapter--"

Captain Dan's feelings got the better of his prudence. "Damn the
Chapter!" he shouted. "I wish you and I had never heard of it, nor
anybody that belongs to it."

The instant after the words left his lips he would have given a good
deal to recall them, but it was too late. His wife slowly rose.

"Daniel Dott!" she gasped. "Daniel Dott! You--YOU--why--my husband
talking to me like that! My own HUSBAND! the man of all men that I
expected would be proud of me! The man who should be proud and glad that
I have found my lifework--speaking to me like that! Oh! oh! what shall I
do! How CAN I bear it!"

She fell back into the chair, her head sank upon her arms over the
manuscript of the precious report, and she burst into a storm of sobs.

Daniel was as much overcome as she. He hurried to her side and in an
agony of remorse bent over her.

"There, there, Serena," he pleaded. "Don't do so. I didn't mean it. It
kind of--"

He would have put his arms about her but she pushed them away.

"And swearing at me," she sobbed. "And using language that--"

"I didn't mean to swear, Serena. I never swore at you before in my life.
I didn't mean to this time. It just seemed to come out all of itself.
Please forgive me, won't you? Please?"

But Serena was not ready to forgive. The sleepless nights and days of
wild excitement had thrown her nerves into a state where it needed but
the slightest jar to break them completely. She sobbed, and choked, and
gasped, her fingers clutching at her hair. Daniel, hanging over her,
tried in vain to put in a word.

"Please, Serena," he kept saying. "Please."

Suddenly the sobs ceased. Serena's hands struck the desk and she rose so
abruptly that her husband had scarce time to get out of her way.

"Serena," he cried.

But Serena cut him short. "Go away," she commanded. "Go away and leave
me. I don't want to speak to you again."

"But, Serena--"

"Go away. Don't come near me again to-night. Go, go, GO!"

And Daniel went, slowly, reluctantly. He was scarcely past the sill, his
hands still upon the knob of the door, when that door was closed from
within with a slam. He made one more effort to speak, but he heard the
key turn and his wife's voice commanding him to go away. He descende