IN THE MIRROR
By Susan Smallwood and Susan Griffith

Part 5

"I don't know anything about the sea," Lucy said, sitting on the end of the bench, beside the Captain's chair, "except that it is romantic."

"That's what all landsmen think. Seamen know better."

"Then why do they go to sea?" Lucy asked, occupied with a basket of tangled yarn.

"Because they haven't the sense to stay ashore." The Captain looked off into space, "heaven help the ordinary seamen."

"Were you ever one?"

"For several years while I learnt me trade."

Forgetting her yarn, Lucy studied him for a moment, then smiled. "It's hard to imagine you - being an ordinary anything."

Looking down at Lucy, Captain Gregg warmly returned her smile.

The Captain grinned broadly, very pleased. "Well, if they were trying to portray my life, they certainly seem to have THAT part right! I am most definitely EXTRAordinary!"

Carolyn agreed inwardly, but would not give the Captain the satisfaction of knowing that. She was still burning from the fact that he had commented on Lucy's speech about her late husband, so obviously wanted to know all about HER life. And Carolyn wasn't sure she was willing to talk about it yet. Talking about Robert meant she had to re-live those times, and that was still too painful. For many reasons. Not the least of which was sitting beside her on the sofa ... so near, yet so unattainable! Then she realized that someone had come to Gull Cottage on the movie.

Lucy had joined the Captain at the window, and said in exasperation, "Oh dear. Whatever can they want?"

"Who is it?"

"My blasted in-laws." Lucy said, going to the door and opening it a crack to hear what was happening downstairs.

The Captain frowned. "Blast is not a lady's word!"

Carolyn, however, noticed that Daniel looked after Lucy with a pleased smile at her words. HE obviously wasn't worried about a woman's language the way the Captain was! Too bad her Captain wasn't so lenient!

Lucy could hear Martha vainly pleading with Eva not to come up, but Eva would have none of it. Shutting the door, Lucy turned to the Captain, very agitated. "Quick! Hide, or go away. Or decompose!" Carolyn chuckled at that. "Dreamer!" she whispered. "Dematerialize, Madam!"

"Whatever it is, do it quickly!" Lucy pleaded.

"Never fear, they can't see me or hear me -" suddenly the Captain grinned wickedly, "unless I choose that they should."

"From the sounds of it, I should think you would choose it." the Captain said. "'Decompose'! Women!"

"Then please don't choose, I'll get rid of them."

"Why don't you let ME?" The Captain asked with a gleam. "I've had plenty of practice."

"I will warrant he has, at that." the Captain almost grunted.

"No!"

"Say the word and I'll keel haul them," he offered pleasantly.

"No! You're not to do anything!" Lucy ordered desperately, just as Eva and her Mother in-law entered without knocking.

"Well, Lucy." Eva said coldly, before whispering to her mother, "Talking to herself." The elder Mrs. Muir swooped down on Lucy, smothering her in a motherly embrace, to which Lucy dutifully submitted. Captain Gregg, who was much annoyed, retreated to the seat over which his portrait hung.

"My poor little Lucy," Mrs. Muir cooed, "you look so pale!"

"Well! What an ugly room." Eva announced. "And whatever do you want with that telescope?"

"If your in-laws had behaved in such a manner, Mrs. Muir, I could not have stood by as that one does. Such rudeness! My cabin is perfectly respectable, and not in the least ugly!" the Captain looked over at Carolyn.

"As you know, my mother-in-law is a dear, and I never had a sister-in-law to contend with!" Carolyn returned, her attention still on the movie.

"What a hideous painting!" Eva said, standing in front of the Captain's portrait, and glaring at it with contempt.

"Anyone with a face like yours, Madam, ought to steer clear of expressing such opinions." the Captain said loudly.

Both Carolyn and the Captain chuckled at that comment.

Lucy jumped, and looked at the faces of her 'guests', afraid they might have heard Captain Gregg's comment, but they were oblivious to her worry.

"Why on earth don't you take it down?" Eva demanded.

"Because I like it, Eva." Lucy said, glaring at the Captain. "I'm very fond of it, really I am."

"Liar!" he laughed.

"Imagine calling that dainty woman a liar. This Captain Gregg really IS a cad! I do wish they had given him a name other than my own. I would never behave so to a lady." the Captain grumbled.

"You've called me worse ... does that mean you don't consider me a lady?" Carolyn dared to ask.

"This is not the time to delve into such matters, madam." the Captain refused to look at her.

"Blast it, Captain! Answer me!"

"Oh, very well. Of COURSE I consider you a lady." he said, quickly. "But...?" Carolyn heard the implied ending.

"Well, as you know, you do not always act in the manner which is appropriate to a lady. For one thing, your language."

Carolyn glared at him, then realized she was missing the show. She turned back to hear Lucy's mother-in-law telling her that Lucy's gold mine had petered out.

"They've stopped paying dividends." Eva said, ill-disguised triumph in her voice. "It was in the Times this morning."

"Oh!" Lucy groaned, sitting down weakly next to the Captain.

He moved closer, "Avast now! Don't make a scene in front of these swabs."

"I don't intend to make a scene."

Mrs. Muir sat next to Lucy, almost in the Captain's lap. Furious, he moved back to the very end of the seat. "Of course you don't." She said, putting her arm around Lucy. "You're my brave little girl, that's what you are." Suddenly she began to weep loudly, "oh, Lucy! My little Lucy!"

"That woman is a menace!" the Captain growled. "Again I say that it is most fortuitous that your mother-in-law is not at all like THIS Mrs. Muir."

"I agree wholeheartedly," Carolyn said.

"Make her stop all that confounded caterwauling or I WILL take a hand." the Captain snapped.

"You keep out of this!"

"Oh, Lucy!" Mrs. Muir wept harder, thinking Lucy's violent words were meant for her. From his end of the seat, Captain Gregg chuckled delightedly.

Lucy finally broke free of her mother in-law, and walked away fuming. "Oh, blast!" Eva and Mrs. Muir were shocked, and the Captain leaped to his feet, laughing and enjoying the spectacle.

"Oh! Did you hear her, Eva?"

"Yes, I heard her." Eva walked over to Lucy, her jaw set. "If that's what you want we WILL keep out of it."

"I didn't mean you." Lucy explained helplessly.

"Then just whom did you mean?"

"I could explain, I suppose," Lucy said slowly, her gaze drifting to the Captain, "but you wouldn't believe me."

"All I know is you're acting in a most peculiar fashion. The only charitable explanation is that the solitude has preyed on your mind." Coming to stand behind Lucy, the Captain leaned over and said slyly, "she thinks you've got bats in your belfry."

"Similar to your Doctor Jim, who sent you to the psychiatrist!" the Captain commented.

Angry and distracted, Lucy turned to the Captain and said sharply, "Oh, pipe down! I want to think."

"Exactly!" Carolyn announced, giving the Captain a dirty look. Captain Gregg grinned, and leaned against his telescope.