ly, but in such a voice of appeal that
he didn't finish his sentence.
We sat about awkwardly, and tried to speak of other things, but the talk
would drift to our fears for the boat. Nell did not join in. She sat by
the window, looking out and listening to the rain and wind, which made a
sound like the purring of a great cat.
Ten o'clock came, and Lady MacNairne proposed that, as we could do
nothing, we women should go to bed.
Then Nell spoke. "No," she said. "You and Phil can do as you like, and
Cousin Robert and Mr. Starr; but I shall sit up."
Of course I told her I would sit up, too; and as Mr. van Buren said the
commercial travelers had left the dining-room, he and Mr. Starr and Nell
and I bade Lady MacNairne good-night, and went down.
The unfortunate Rabbit was in the act of putting out the light, but he
was obliged to leave it for us, a necessity which distressed him.
By-and-by it was eleven, and the hotel was as silent as a hotel in a
Dead City ought to be. We talked spasmodically. Sometimes we were still
for many minutes, listening for sounds outside; and we could hear the
scampering of mice behind the walls.
"I can't stand this," said Nell. "I'm going to the harbor."
"I will take you," replied Mr. van Buren.
"No, thank you," said Nell. "I'd rather you stopped with Phil. She has a
cold, and mustn't get wet."
"May I go?" asked Mr. Starr.
"Yes," she said.
So they stole away through the sleeping house, and presently we heard
the front door close. Mr. van Buren and I were alone together.
He was good about cheering me up, saying he had too much faith in his
friend's courage and skill as a yachtsman to be very anxious, though the
delay was odd.
Then, suddenly he broke out with a strange question.
"Would it hurt you if anything should happen to Rudolph Brederode?"
I was so surprised that I could hardly answer at first. Then I said that
of course it would hurt me, for I liked and admired the Jonkheer, and
considered him my friend.
"I have no right to ask," he went on, "but I do beg you to say if it is
only as a friend you like Rudolph."
That startled me, for I was afraid things I had done might have been
misunderstood, owing to the difference of ways in Holland.
"Why," I stammered, "are you going to warn me not to care for him,
because he doesn't care for me? How _dreadful_!"
Nell's cousin Robert looked so pale, I was afraid he must be ill. He put
up his hand and pushed his ha
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