Deringham looked at his daughter reproachfully, though his eyes
twinkled, and for just a moment a flush crept into the girl's face, but
she laughed as she said, "Then I must trouble to ask the cook for more
water."

Alton hammered upon the suspended iron sheet, and in a minute or two
the cook appeared again with a large plateful of sliced pork which he
laid down before Miss Deringham.

"I was figuring you would change your mind, and if you want any more
you have only to ask for it," he said.

It cost the girl an effort to repress a shiver of disgust, but though
she succeeded Alton saw her face, and she noticed that the bronze grew
a trifle darker in his forehead. It seemed that he guessed her
thoughts, but the fact that he offered no explanation and made no
excuse for the uninviting fare pleased her. She fancied she understood
his reticence, and that it became him.

"Take that pork away, and bring more water!" he said, and there was a
faint ring in his voice, as he turned to the cook.

The man, who took up the teapot, shook it, and then, as though still
incredulous, lifted the lid and gazed inside it.

"More water?" he said.

"Yes," said Alton, a trifle harshly. "Get it right now!"

The man went away, and there was for almost a minute a somewhat