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?”
“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:
“Hey? Why?” he repeated. “Oh, I don't know. So many things have happened, I guess.”
“All kinds. But there--tell me about yourself. How's college? And how's John? Land sakes! I ain't said a word about John, and he's about as important as anything on earth just now, or he ought to be. Guess you think I'm a selfish old pig, not to ask about him before this. How is he?”