She 'fraid for ever'ting, but most I tink, she 'fraid for you, senor." Miss Norvell hastily laid her hand upon the girl's sleeve in remonstrance, her face showing grave in the dim light.
"No, no, Mercedes; you must not say too much, or Mr.Winston will think us both very foolish." "Eet vas not foolish for us to vant to know, vas eet, senor ?" "Assuredly not." He walked across the narrow room, glanced into the face of the sleeping sheriff, came back beside them, and leaned against the wall.

The movement served to yield him confidence and self-control, to decide him as to his future course.

"What is it you are so desirous of knowing ?" "Vy, de whole ting, senor, de whole ting." He gazed directly into the partially upturned face of the other, as though urging her also to speak.
"We do not in the least comprehend the situation here, Mr.Winston," she responded, her voice low and steady.

"No one has taken the trouble to explain.

We realize, of course, it must be serious, but possibly the strain would prove less if we understood clearly what must be met." The engineer bowed, drawing toward him an empty cracker-box, and sat down facing them both.
"I will relate the circumstances to you in all their unpleasantness," he began quietly.