Now, at the same place, and by the same
light, they had heard the last. It was intolerable: he turned his back
on the captain. Inside, in the gloom of the painted cabin, the padre's
wife began suddenly to cry. After a time, the deep voice of her husband,
speaking very low, and to her alone, became dimly audible:--
"'All this is come upon us; yet have we not--Our heart is not turned
back, neither have our steps declined--Though thou hast sore broken us
in the place of dragons, and covered us with the shadow of death.'"
The little captain groaned, and rolled aside from the doorway.
"All very fine," he muttered, his head wrapped in his arms. "But that's
no good to me. I can't stand it."
Whether she heard him, or by chance, Miss Drake came quietly from
within, and found a place between him and the gunwale. He did not rouse;
she neither glanced nor spoke, but leaned against the ribs of
smooth-worn fir, as though calmly waiting.
When at last he looked up, to see her face and posture, he gave an angry
start.
"And I thought," he blurted, "be 'anged if sometimes I didn't think you
liked him!"
Her dark eyes met the captain's with a great and steadfast clearness.
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