"You are a very imprudent person," said Luella, smiling, yet with a most charming trace of anxiety under the smile.
"That is what you are to tell me. Papa told us a little about your saving his life and his plans this morning, but he was so very short about it. Let me know the whole story from your own mouth. Was this the arm that was hurt?"
I started to give a brief description of my morning's adventure, but there was something in my listener's face that called forth detail after detail, and her eyes kindled as I told the tale of the battle that won Omega in the stock Board, and the fight that rescued the fruits of victory in the office of the company.
"There is something fine in it, after all," she said when I was through. "There is something left of the spirit of the old adventurers and the knights. Oh, I wish I were a man! No, I don't either. I'd rather be the daughter of a man--a real man--and I know I am that."
I thought of the Doddridge Knapp that she did not know, and a pang of pity and sorrow wrenched my heart.
"You do not think, do you," she said softly, "that I don't appreciate your part in it? Indeed I do." I took her hand, and she let it lie a moment before she drew it away.
"Oh, yes," said she, changing her tone to one of complete indifference. "Papa said he had made you a director."
"Yes," I said, taking my cue from her manner. "I have the happiness to share the honor with three other dummies. Your father makes the fifth."
"How absurd!" laughed Luella. "Do you want to provoke me?"
"Oh, of course, I mean that your father does the thinking, and--"
"And you punch the head he points out to you, I suppose," said Luella sarcastically.
"Don't mind me, Henry," interrupted the voice of Mrs. Knapp.
"But I must," said I, giving her greeting. "What service do you require?"
"I was explaining this morning's troubles."
"Oh, I heard a little of them from Mr. Knapp. Have you had any more of your adventures at Borton's and other dreadful places?"
I glanced at Luella. She was leaning forward, her chin resting on her hand, and her eyes were fixed on me with close attention. "I should like to hear of them, too," she said.
I considered a moment, and then, as I could see no reason for keeping silent, I gave a somewhat abridged account of my Livermore trip, omitting reference to the strange vagaries of the Doddridge Knapp who traveled by night.