But，accordingtothehousekeeper，CaptainHallwasoutofhistroublesandhadgonewherehewouldbehappyforeverandever。Soitseemedtoherstrangetobeexpectedtocryonhisaccount。HehadnotbeenhappyhereinOstable，or，atleast，hehadnotshownhishappinessinthewayotherpeopleshowedtheirs。Toherhehadbeenabig，beardedgiantofaman，whomshesawatinfrequentintervalsduringthedayandalwaysatnightjustbeforeshewenttobed。Hisroom，withtheold-fashionedsecretaryagainstthewall，andthestuffedgullontheshelf，andthebooksinthecupboard，andthepolishednarwhalhorninthecorner，wastoherasortofholyofholies，aplacewhereshewasledeacheveningatnineo’clock，atfirstbyMrs。Baileyand，later，byMrs。Hobbs，toshakethehandofthebigmanwholookedatherabsentlyoverhisspectaclesandsaidgoodnightinavoicenotunkindlybutexpressingnoparticularinterest。Atothertimesshewasstrictlyforbiddentoenterthatroom。
Occasionally，butveryrarely，shehadeatenSundaydinnerwithMarcellus。SheandthehousekeeperusuallyatetogetherandMr。
Hall’smealswereservedinwhatthechildcalled“thesmokeroom，“
meaningtheapartmentjustdescribed，whichwasatalltimesstronglyscentedwithtobacco。TheSundaydinnerswerestatelyandformalaffairsandwereprefacedbylecturesbythehousekeeperconcerningsittingupstraightandnotdisturbingCap’nHallbytalkingtoomuch。OnthewholeMary-’Gustawasrathergladwhenthemealswereover。Shedidnotdislikeherstepfather；hehadneverbeenroughorunkind，butshehadalwaysstoodinaweofhimandhadfeltthatheregardedherasa“peskynuisance，“somethingtobefedandthenshooedoutoftheway，asMrs。HobbsregardedDavid，thecat。Asforlovinghim，asotherchildrenseemedtolovetheirfathers；thatthegirlneverdid。Shewassurehedidnotloveherinthatway，andthathewouldnothavewelcomeddemonstrationsofaffectiononherpart。Shehadlearnedthereason，orshethoughtshehad：shewasaSTEPCHILD；thatwaswhy，andastepchildwasalmostasbadasa“changeling“inafairystory。
Hermothersheremembereddimlyandwiththatrecollectionwerememoriesofdayswhenshewaslovedandmademuchof，notonlybyMother，butbyCaptainHallalso。SheaskedMrs。Bailey，whomshehadlovedandwhoseleavingwasthegreatestgriefofherlife，somequestionsaboutthesememories。Mrs。BaileyhadhuggedherandhadtalkedagooddealaboutCaptainHall’sbeingachangedmansincehiswife’sdeath。“Heusedtobesodifferent，jollyandgood-