Nan Sherwood's Summer Holidays Part 17

"Oh, Nan, it's nothing at all," Bess comforted. "That is, I hope it isn't, because it's all my fault," she added very contritely. "It was so warm here the night of the storm that I opened the porthole when I came down to leave my heavy coat. Amelia called me and told me to hurry and, rattle-brained as I am, I ran after her completely forgetting about the storm and the porthole. You can guess what happened. One of those big waves that nearly did away with you plopped in and made a miniature lake."

"Was anything ruined?" Nan asked.

"Nothing, except my own silk dress. Remember, I threw it down in disgust that afternoon because the snaps had been pulled off the sleeves. Well, you should see it now. It's a complete wreck. Serves me right to have to get along without it. I only hope you don't feel too disappointed in the new cabin." Bess looked genuinely troubled.

"Don't worry," Nan rea.s.sured her friend. "I don't care what kind of a cabin I have," she said lightly, for such things really didn't matter to her.

But the words were hardly out of her mouth when Bess pushed the door open and revealed to Nan a big stateroom with twin beds, a chaise longue, two big easy chairs, dainty dressing tables, a large wardrobe, and a little private sitting room!

Nan gasped. "This isn't ours," she exclaimed incredulously.

Rhoda and Bess looked from Nan to the stateroom and back again to Nan.

"It is," they cried. "It's yours."

Nan stepped into the room and looked around. The sitting room had big windows overlooking the deck and the sea. There were books and magazines, a victrola, comfortable chairs and a rug. Over it all the morning sun was streaming.

"But why?" Nan's eyes were wide open in amazement.

"Captain's orders," Rhoda answered.

"Why?" Nan persisted.

"I told you why," Bess smiled. "It's because our cabin was inundated by the recent flood."

"I still don't believe that's the truth," Nan a.s.serted. "But I love this place just the same."

"Do we walk right in?" It was Laura at the door. "Or do we have to send cards first?"

"Oh, Laura!" Nan exclaimed. "Come here. Have you seen this?" She moved the dial of a small radio.

"Have I seen that? Why, darling, I moved your things in," Laura laughed.

"And what's more, I was here when the Captain came."

"The Captain!" They all exclaimed at once.

"Yes, he came down in all his glory. He has a stern looking face complete with a Vand.y.k.e beard, and he wore a uniform with epaulettes and much fancy braid. He carried a cap in his hand. He came 'to see if Miss Sherwood's stateroom was satisfactory.'" Laura tried to clip the sentence off as the Captain had.

"You should hear his accent!" she exclaimed. "It's Oxford or Cambridge or something equally as exclusive, I'm sure. I'm quite in love with the man! He's perfectly darling!" she finished.

"I beg your pardon." The girls jumped and looked up, startled, for it was a man's voice. They recognized at once the uniform, the cap, and the Vand.y.k.e beard. It was the Captain! He must have heard them!

He looked sternly down on their confusion. "Miss Sherwood?"

"Yes, Captain." Nan answered meekly and started to get up.

"No, no," he motioned her to remain seated.

Nan sat down again. The voice was one that was accustomed to being obeyed.

"I merely wanted to make certain that everything was satisfactory." He looked critically about the room.

"Oh, it is! It is!" Nan exclaimed. "It's just perfect!" Not even her confusion could keep the note of sincerity out of her voice.

The Captain seemed preoccupied with his inspection of the stateroom.

"Your baggage has been moved." It was more a statement than a question.

"You are feeling--well."

"Yes, thank you, sir," Nan hastened to reply. Had she felt otherwise she wouldn't have dared to admit it in the face of his a.s.surance.

"You want for nothing?"

"No--no, sir. Nothing at all." Nan was annoyed at her own inability to be at ease. If only he had come at another time!

Then his glance seemed to take in Laura for the first time.

"And Miss Polk, I trust that you are comfortable too." Again, it was a statement and Laura gulped, not knowing whether she was supposed to answer or not.

"I thank you, ladies." With this he turned and went out.

Even before his measured tread was entirely out of earshot, Laura was lamenting. "If only I had kept my mouth shut!" she exclaimed. "'Oxford or Cambridge accent.'" She sounded completely disgusted. "'I'm in love with the man! He's perfectly darling.' And then he walks in on me! What can I do? You can't walk up to a man and apologize for anything like that." She looked hopelessly at her friends.

Nan was laughing so hard she was holding both her sides and so was Bess. Rhoda was stuffing a handkerchief into her mouth. "Oh, I never saw anything so funny in my life," she said.

"Funny!" Laura was indignant. "I'd like to know what was funny about that! Funny!" she muttered.

"Oh, Laura," Nan was wiping the tears out of her eyes. "If you could have seen the expression on your face when he asked whether you were comfortable, you would laugh too."

Laura grinned with them at this. "The old meany," she said. "He heard every word of what I said, and he was just rubbing it in. And I thought he was a chivalrous old duck! I wish he would come back now. I'd tell him what was what."

"Don't, don't say that." Rhoda raised a protesting hand. "You'll meet him soon enough as it is."

"Oh, no, I won't," Laura denied. "I'm not going to stir out of my cabin from now until the time the boat docks. I just couldn't face that man again." She turned as though to leave, but stopped as Grace came into the room.

"What man?" Grace asked. "Did you see him too?" Her face was pale and scared looking.

"What are you talking about?" Rhoda rushed over and closed the door behind Grace.

"That man, that red-headed hunchback. Oh, the one that went through Nan's bags. Surely, you haven't forgotten him. Did you see him, too?"

She directed the question at Laura again.

"Why, Gracie, no, I haven't seen him." Laura was very serious now. "Have you?"

"Oh, yes." Grace was pale and frightened. "He's out there. I think he followed me down the hall." She was almost hysterical.

Laura moved toward the door and reached out as if to open it.

"Don't do that!" Grace's voice was a command. "He followed me. I tell you he followed me!" She almost shrieked the last.