Elsie Preston did her best to smile as her companion rattled on in this
fashion, but both the smile and the Captain's cheerfulness were too
plainly assumed to be convincing, and they passed down the hall in
silence. At the open door of the sick room Captain Eri paused.

"He's asleep," he whispered, "and, remember, if he wakes up and doesn't
know you, you needn't feel bad."

Elsie slipped by him and knelt by the bed, looking into the white, old
face on the pillow. Somehow the harsh lines had faded out of it, and it
looked only old and pitiful.

The Captain watched the tableau for a moment or two, and then tiptoed
into the room and placed the lamp on the bureau.

"Now, I think likely," he said in a rather husky whisper, "that you'd
like to stay with your grandpa for a little while, so I'll go downstairs
and see about supper. No, no, no!" he added, holding up his hand as the
girl spoke some words of protest, "you ain't goin' nowheres to supper.
You're goin' to stay right here. If you want me, jest speak."

And he hurried downstairs and into the kitchen, clearing his throat with
vigor and making a great to-do over the scratching of a match.

Mrs. Snow returned a few minutes later and to her the news of the
arrival was told, as it was also to Perez and Jerry when they came. Mrs.
Snow took charge of the supper arrangements. When the meal was ready,
she said to Captain Eri:

"Now, I'll go upstairs and tell her to come down. I'll stay with Cap'n