How much impression had I made? It was hard for me to judge such a
man. He would pretend to be less concerned than he actually was. But
surely he must see that he was in my power, and would have to give
way in the end!
There came a hail from the little vessel, and we moved alongside
again. "Would you kindly step in here with us, Mrs. Abbott?" said
Dr. Perrin, and when I had done so, he ordered the boatman to move
away once more. Van Tuiver said not a word, but I noted a strained
look upon his face, and I thought the others seemed agitated also.
As soon as the other vessel was out of hearing, Dr. Perrin turned to
me and said: "Mrs. Abbott, we came out to see Mr. van Tuiver, to
warn him of a distressing accident which has just happened. Mrs. van
Tuiver was asleep in her room, and Miss Lyman and another of the
nurses were in the next room. They indiscreetly made some remarks on
the subject which we have all been discussing--how much a wife
should be told about these matters, and suddenly they discovered
Mrs. van Tuiver standing in the doorway of the room."
My gaze had turned to Douglas van Tuiver. "So she _knows!_" I cried.
"We don't think that she knows, but she has a suspicion and is
trying to find out.
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