When I was left alone in your cabin, the second time,
and the sea came in, a packet of letters fell out of some clothes which
I picked up from the floor. There was one from your sister. I hardly
knew what I was doing, but I saw her name, 'Madge,' and I read a few
words on the half page above her signature."
His left arm was now so well established that his hand touched her
cheek, and he found it wet with tears.
"What wild conceit has crept into your pretty little head?" he cried in
amaze, unconsciously raising his voice somewhat. "A letter from my
sister! She is the most straightforward woman breathing, I assure you.
Never a line has she written to me which could bear any construction
such as seems to trouble you. Why, on the contrary, Madge has often
chaffed me for being so like herself in giving no thought to matrimony."
"It is horrid of me to persist, but I owe it to you to tell you what I
saw. She alluded to your 'affianced wife,' and said that 'under no
other circumstances,' whatever they were, would she receive her."
Then Courtenay laughed again, and Elsie found it was absolutely
essential, if Joey were not to be crushed, that her head should bend a
little forward, with the obvious result that it rested on Courtenay's
shoulder.
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