twitched as she said calmly:

"Did you? I am glad to hear it."

This dispassionate remark was entirely unexpected, and the electrician,
as Captain Eri would have said, "lost his bearings" completely.

"Yes--er, yes," he stammered. "Very interesting indeed. I--I suppose you
must take a good many orders in the course of a week."

"A good many ORDERS?"

"Why, yes. Orders for the books, I mean. The books--the 'Great Naval
Lives'--er--these books here."

"I beg your pardon, but who do you think I am?"

And it was then that the perception of some tremendous blunder began
to seize upon Mr. Hazeltine. He had been red before; now, he felt the
redness creeping over his scalp under his hair.

"Why, why, Miss Black, I suppose; that is, I--"

Just here the door opened and Captain Eri came in. He took off his cap
and then, seeing the visitor, remained standing, apparently waiting for
an introduction. But the young lady did not keep him waiting long.

"Are you Captain Eri Hedge?" she asked.

"Yes'm," answered the Captain.