d. You been
everything to him. When you've got through I'll take a hand, but not
before." The captain always spoke the truth, and meant it; his word
settled at once any anxieties she might have had on that score.

"What have you decided to do?" She was not looking at him as she spoke;
she was toying with a penholder that lay before her on the desk,
apparently intent on its construction.

"I'm goin' to meet him at Farguson's ship-yard when the Polly comes
in," rejoined the captain in a positive tone, as if his mind had long
since been made up regarding details, and he was reciting them for her
guidance--"and take him straight to my house, and then come for you.
You kin have it out together. Only one thing, Miss Jane"--here his
voice changed and something of his old quarter-deck manner showed
itself in his face and gestures--"if he's laid his course and wants to
keep hold of the tiller I ain't goin' to block his way and he shall
make his harbor, don't make no difference who or what gits in the
channel. Ain't neither of us earned any extry pay for the way we've run
this thing. You've got Lucy ashore flounderin' 'round in the fog, and I
had no business to send him off without grub or compass. If he wants to
steer now he'll STEER. I don't want you to make no mistake 'bout this,
and you'll excuse me if I put it plain."

Jane put her hand to her head and looked out of the window toward the
sea. All her life seemed to be narrowing to one small converging path
which grew smaller and smaller as she looked down its perspective.

"I understand, captain," she sighed. All the fight was out of her; she
was like one limping across a battlefield, shield and spear gone, the
roads unknown.

The door opened and the doctor entered. His quick, sensitive eye
instantly caught the look of despair on Jane's face and the air of
determination on the captain's. What had happened he did not know, but
something to hurt Jane; of that he was positive. He stepped quickly
past the captain without accosting him, rested his hand on Jane's
shoulder, and said in a tender, pleading tone:

"You are tired and worn out; get your cloak and hat and I'll drive you
home." Then he turned to the captain: "Miss Jane's been up for three
nights. I hope you haven't been worrying her with anything you could
have spared her from--at least until she got rested," and he frowned at
the captain.

"No, I ain't and wouldn't. I been a-tellin' her of Bart's comin' home.
Th