I LAY recovering from the moist excitement in the long chair which she had dragged along the deck. The longer she thought over the incident the more vexed she became with the “clumsy fool,” as she called him mentally. He would probably sulk or do something foolish which her uncle would be bound to notice; and worse than that she feared that if he really were such a cad as apparently he had proved himself to be, he might seek to revenge himself upon her uncle through the firm.
When her thoughts turned to the other man she again became vexed. She supposed that the fellow would consider that she was under an obligation to him and therefore that she would have to be nice. Association brought the memory of his statement at dinner that he did not drink. Was he merely swanking? she wondered.
At the same moment she recollected that although Selwyn drank all the time it had never occurred to her to remonstrate with him. Perhaps it was because the one had money and everything life could give him—or rather everything he could take from life—whereas the other had appeared to her to be ruining a career that was necessary to him for his welfare. Yet that was queer reasoning.
“Must have appealed to my maternal instinct,” she decided lazily at last, “although I didn't know I had one.”
Presently she heard a step and saw Selwyn emerge from the companionway. A dread that he was coming over to apologize to her faded as he deliberately dragged his chair, which. was already some distance away from hers, right across in front of her to the other side of the deck. A flare of a match as he lighted a cigar showed a sullenly angry face. Oh, the man, she thought. How perfectly dreadful to be cooped up on a boat with a creature like that!
Next morning Selwyn did not appear at breakfast, commanding Chi Loo to serve him in his cabin. Vi sighed when she saw her uncle frown, for the Old Man resented extra work being put upon the steward by anybody who was not ill. After the meal he rose and made for Selwyn's cabin.
“Oh, Lord!” groaned Vi. “Now, for it!”
She sat still and listened.
“Good morning, Mr. Selwyn!”
“Mornin',” growled Selwyn.
“Are you ill? Is there anything I can do for you?”
“No, there's not.”
“Well, Mr. Selwyn, the steward has more than enough to do without”
“I don't care a what the steward has to do!” snapped Selwyn's voice. “In future I intend to have my meals served in here, whether you like it or whether you don't. This is my ship. D'you understand, cap'n?”
“The ship,” came the Old Man's voice quietly after a moment's silence, “belongs to the firm of Selwyn, Meredith & Company, and I am in command of her.”
“You won't be long, cap'n!”
“I shall give orders to the steward that he is not to serve you here unless you are ill. Please understand that, Mr. Selwyn.”
“You do and you know what will”
The closing of the door shut off the last words. Captain Kelvett walked across the saloon toward the companion with a wrinkled brow. Vi rushed after him.
“Uncle, I heard. Don't take any notice of the cad.”
He looked at her, frowning.
“What's the matter with the man?” he grumbled.
“He won't and can't do anything. He's probably half-drunk and threatening nonsense.”
“No, it isn't nonsense, Vi. You don't know. Old Selwyn thinks the world of this boy of his; and after all it's my bread and butter.”
“Oh, but they wouldn't; they couldn't, uncle!”
“But they do, Vi. Only the year before the war old Belknap was thrown out of the Chisholm to make place for a youngster of thirty who happened to be a schoolmate of this man here.”
“Oh, it's shameful!” exclaimed Vi.
“Perhaps, but it's true. But I can't understand what's made him so sore.”
I HESITATED. If she told him even half the truth he would probably be so enraged that he would lead to a serious row and would put Selwyn in irons if he became violent. No; she had better let the matter rest and hope that the cad would not carry out his threats. Humiliating, but as her uncle said it was his bread and butter.
She spent the morning on the upper bridge with the grizzled mate, conscious of the eyes of Selwyn, who was smoking cigars and drinking a bottle of champagne just below. At lunch he appeared to have thought better of his decision and sat himself next to her in his usual seat. Throughout the meal he would not speak.
Once when the captain addressed him to make polite conversation he stared sullenly at his plate and refused to answer. Vi's anger began to mount until at last she felt that she could not endure the strain and, rising, she apologized and retired to the deck.