g else. I
wouldn't have--"

"Of course you wouldn't. Oh, Daddy, if you weren't the very worst
diplomat in all this world this wouldn't have happened. Why didn't you
tell me all about it? Why didn't you write me the truth long, long ago?
If I had only come sooner! If I had only known! Oh, WHY did you let
things reach this state? Why didn't you stop it?"

"Stop it? Stop what?"

"Oh, everything. Don't you remember that I told you to send for me
if you needed me? To send at any time and I would come? And don't you
remember that I wrote you if you felt this moving to Scarford was wrong
to say no and stick to it? Why didn't you do that?"

"Why, I--I--Serena, she was so set on comin' and all that, that--"

"I know. You needn't tell me. And yet, in a way, it seems strange. I
remember some things Laban Ginn, Azuba's husband, told me about you and
your ways aboard ship; he said your crews obeyed every order you gave
as if it was what he called 'Gospel.' You, and no one else, was master
there. However, that is not pertinent just now. Run along to bed,
there's a dear."

Daniel obediently rose.

"But what are you goin' to do, Gertie?" he asked.

"I don't know what I am going to do. First of all I am going to see and
find out for myself. Then I shall decide. One thing seems certain: I
shall not go back to college."

"Not go back! Not go back to college? Why, it's your last term! What'll
your mother say? What'll John say?"

Gertrude's lips closed tightly and she gave a determined toss of her
head.

"John will say what I say, I think," she declared. "As for Mother--well,
what she says won't make any difference, not at present. Good-night,
Daddy. Now don't worry, and," she repressed a smile, "be very careful
and, if you must express your opinion of the Chapter, do it in the back
yard or somewhere out of hearing. Good-night."

She kissed him and he went slowly and fearfully upstairs. Serena's
attitude of reproachful and self-sacrificing forgiveness he met with
meek repentance and promises not to offend again. He got into bed, worn
out and troubled, but with a ray of hope in his bosom, nevertheless.
Gertie had come home; Gertie was going to do something or other, he did
not know and could not guess what. At any rate she was with him, and he
could see her every day. Perhaps--perhaps--still wondering perhapses he
fell asleep.

Next morning at breakfast the young lady seemed to be in good spirits
and, except for Serena's ab