He stopped for an instant in the hall, slipped off his coat, and walked straight upstairs, humming a tune as he came.
Jane heard his firm tread, opened the door of their room, and she and Martha crossed the hall to a smaller apartment where Jane always attended to the business affairs of the house.

The captain's face was wreathed in a broad smile as he extended his hand to Jane in welcome.
"It's lucky ye caught me, Miss Jane.

I was just goin' out, and in a minute I'd been gone for the night.

Hello, Mother Martha! I thought you'd gone to Trenton." The two women made no reply to his cheery salutation, except to motion him to a seat.

Then Jane closed the door and turned the key in the lock.
When the captain emerged from the chamber he stepped out alone.