"Emily who?
Emily what ?" Captain Brisket turned and regarded her in amazement.
"Emily who ?" repeated Mrs.Chalk.
"Why, it's--" began Brisket.
"H'sh!" said Mr.Chalk, desperately.

"It's a secret." "It's a secret," said Captain Brisket, nodding calmly at Mrs.Chalk.
Wrath and astonishment held her for the moment breathless.

Mr.Chalk, caught between his wife and Captain Bowers, fortified himself with memories of the early martyrs and gave another warning glance at Brisket.
For nearly two minutes that undaunted mariner met the gaze of Mrs.Chalk without flinching.
"A--a secret ?" gasped the indignant woman at last, as she turned to her husband.

"You sit there and dare to tell me that ?" "It isn't my secret," said Mr.Chalk, "else I should tell you at once." "It isn't his secret," said the complaisant Brisket.
Mrs.Chalk controlled herself by a great effort and, turning to Captain Brisket, addressed him almost calmly.

"Was it Emily that came whistling over the garden-wall the other night ?" she inquired.
"Whis--- ?" said the hapless Brisket, making a noble effort.