There was nothing in the world that Maria Port was afraid of except her father, and of him personally she had not the slightest dread.  But of his dying without leaving her the whole of his fortune she had an abiding terror, which often kept her awake at night, and which sent a sickening thrill through her whenever a difficulty arose between her and her parent.  She was quite sure what he would do if she should offend him sufficiently; he would leave her a small annuity, enough to support her; and the rest of his money would go to several institutions which she had heard him mention in this connection.  If she could have married Captain Asher she would have felt a good deal safer; it would have taken much provocation to make her father leave his money out of the family if his old friend had been one of that family.

Now, when she heard her father’s voice, and saw his dark eyes glittering at her, she knew she was in great danger, and the well-known chill ran through her.  She made no answer; she cared not who was present; she thought of nothing but that those eyes must cease to glitter, and that angry voice must not be heard again.  She turned and walked to her room, which was on the same floor, across the hall.

“And mind you go to bed!” shouted her father.  “And do it regular.  You’re not to make believe to go to bed, and then get up and walk about as soon as my back is turned.  I’m comin’ in presently to see if you’ve obeyed me.”

She answered not, but entered her room, and closed the door after her.

Mr. Port now turned to the captain.  “I never could find out,” he said, “where Maria got that mind of her’n.  It isn’t from my side, for my father and mother was as good people as ever lived, and it wasn’t from her mother, for you knew her, and there wasn’t anything of the kind about her.”

“No,” said Captain Asher, “not the least bit of it.”

“It must have been from her grandmother Ellis,” said the old man.  “I never knew her, for she died before I was acquainted with the family, but I expect she died of deviltry.  That’s the only insight I can get into the reasons for Maria’s havin’ the mind she’s got.  But I tell you, Captain John, you’ve had a blessed escape!  I didn’t know she was in the habit of goin’ out to your house so often.  She didn’t tell me that.”

“Simeon,” said the captain, “I think I will go now.  I have had enough of Maria.  I don’t suppose I’ll hear from her very soon again.”

The old man smiled.  “No,” said he, “I don’t think she’ll want to trouble you any more.”

Miss Port, whose ear was at the keyhole of her door not twelve feet away, grinned malignantly.

Soon after Captain Asher had gone Mr. Port walked to the door of his daughter’s room, gave a little knock, and then opened the door a little.

“You are in bed, are you?” said he.  “Well, that’s good for you.  Turn down that coverlid and let me see if you’ve got your nightclothes on.”  She obeyed.  “Very well,” he continued; “now you stay there until I tell you to get up.”