Anthony tilted it a little by way of trial. "The
old man will be very comfortable in here," he said to himself, and
stepped back into the saloon closing the door gently. Then another
thought occurred to him obvious under the circumstances but strangely
enough presenting itself for the first time. "Jove! Won't he get a
shock," thought Roderick Anthony.
He went hastily on deck. "Mr. Franklin, Mr. Franklin." The mate was not
very far. "Oh! Here you are. Miss . . . Mrs. Anthony'll be coming on
board presently. Just give me a call when you see the cab."
Then, without noticing the gloominess of the mate's countenance he went
in again. Not a friendly word, not a professional remark, or a small
joke, not as much as a simple and inane "fine day." Nothing. Just
turned about and went in.
We know that, when the moment came, he thought better of it and decided
to meet Flora's father in that privacy of the main cabin which he had
been so careful to arrange. Why Anthony appeared to shrink from the
contact, he who was sufficiently self-confident not only to face but to
absolutely create a situation almost insane in its audacious generosity,
is difficult to explain.
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