m the rack.

"Good evenin'!" said Daniel.

The answer was a surprise. There was a laugh, and then a pair of arms
were thrown about Captain Dan's neck and a girlish voice said: "Good
evening! Is THAT all you've got to say to me? Why, Daddy, you dear old
goose, don't you know me?"

Daniel's answer was a shout that might have been heard at the next
corner.

"What!" he roared. "GERTIE! Good land of love! Where'd you come from?"

CHAPTER VIII

"But aren't you glad to see me, Daddy?" asked Gertrude. They were in
the library. The trunk had been carried upstairs and the young lady had
assured her father over and over again that she really didn't want
any dinner, as she had eaten on the dining car during the journey from
Boston.

The captain, who had scarcely taken his eyes off her since her arrival
at the house, drew a long breath.

"Glad to see you!" he repeated. "I never was more glad to see anybody in
MY life. How'd you happen to come so soon? We weren't expectin' you for
a week."

"I hadn't expected to come, but I changed my mind. Now tell me all about
yourself. How are you, and how's Mother? And how are you getting on?
Mother has gone to the Chapter meeting, you say. Did she go alone?"

"No, she didn't go alone. That--Cousin Percy went with her."

"Cousin Percy? Oh, you mean Mr. Hungerford. Do you call him Cousin
Percy? How funny!"

She seemed much amused. Her father smiled, but it was a rather sheepish
smile.

"'Tis kind of funny, I suppose," he admitted. "I don't know as he really
is a cousin. Fact is, I guess he ain't any real relation."

"Of course he isn't. He was Aunt Lavinia's second cousin, or something
like that, but she was only your aunt by marriage. I don't see why you
should speak of him as 'Cousin Percy.' Did he ask you to?"

"No-o; I don't know as he did. But, you see, he always calls your mother
Cousin Serena and me Cousin Daniel, and--and--well, I guess we've kind
of got into the habit. Your mother began it and, now that he's been here
so long, I've caught the disease, I shouldn't wonder."

"Long! Why, he hasn't been here more than a month, has he?"

"Hey? No; no; now that you mention it I don't suppose he has. But it
seems a lot longer than that to me."

He sighed. Gertrude regarded him keenly. Unconscious of the regard he
sat there, lost in thought, apparently forgetful of her presence. She
reminded him by saying:

"Why does it seem longer?"

He started and looked up.