"You have done well," he said at length. "I had no idea you would be
so fortunate."
"Yes, everything fits pretty well," laughed the girl, "except that the
skirt is a trifle short, but of course that doesn't matter here.
That's not the point, though." She gazed at him sternly. "Who gave
you permission to come in here and cook?"
As Dan looked at her in amazement she continued:
"Now see here, Captain Merrithew, we might just as well face our
situation. This is no time for observance of the minor conventions or
gallantry. We are shipwrecked. We are nothing more nor less than two
human beings cast away on a derelict. You are to regard me, not as
Virginia Howland, helpless, dependent, to be waited upon and watched
over, but as you would Ralph Oddington or any one else were he in my
place--as an assistant in the common cause of safety. I am going to
help you in every way I can, and I am going to begin by establishing
myself as cook of this party from now on. Please don't imagine I can't
cook. I attended a French culinary school for two seasons. And now--"
she stepped into the galley and seized Dan by the sleeve, drawing him
gently toward the door--"won't you please go so that I shall have elbow
room--this is such a tiny box of a place. Please!"
Dan hesitated no longer.
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