"
"But you know he leaves all that to Mr. Malcolm, and I don't believe we
ought to meddle."
Mr. Malcolm was the head steward, and it was an excellent rule of
Captain Hosmer's to interfere as little as possible with the special
prerogatives of his officers, who in turn always tried their best to
please him. Mr. Malcolm knew his duties thoroughly, and did them.
This the girls knew, hence the disclaimer from thoughtful Faith,
"Oh dear! It would be so pleasant. And father ought to have a say
about his own table--"
"But you know he's always consulted, dear, and by this time everything
is planned."
"Well, we might be consulted, too."
"Why, Hope! When he has planned everything to make it pleasant for us."
Hope's pout died out into a shamefaced smile.
"There, there! Consider it unsaid, Miss Wisdom. Guess I can
appreciate the dear man, myself--and there he is looking for us now."
Quite over her pet, she ran to meet him, and his tender smile met their
upturned faces.
"Ah, girlies, I was just coming for you. I'll see you in to the table
and join you presently. Just now I'm busy, but Malcolm and Joey will
look after you. I didn't forget that my little girls were along when
we fixed up the table-list, and you'll see they are not all ponderous
elderly people with titles, this time. Come on!"
The sisters exchanged glances, and Hope in a spasm of repentance,
murmured, "Oh papa, you're too good to us!" which he only half caught
as Faith just then remarked,
"But Hafiz--I'll have to--"
"Here, Jack,"--to a passing attendant,--"take this kitten to my cabin,
and see that the door is shut into the large stateroom, off.
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