The expression "tiptoed" is here used to indicate the extreme caution
of Cap'n Cod's entrance, and his evident desire to effect it as
noiselessly as possible. As he could only tiptoe on one foot, however,
and had neglected to muffle the iron-shod peg that served him in place
of the other, his progress was attended with more than its usual amount
of noise. He appeared relieved to find Winn awake, and advancing with
a cordial greeting, he laid the boy's own clothing, now cleaned and
dried, within his reach. "I should have sent Solon in with these," he
explained, "but for fear he might make a noise that would rouse you,
and I noticed last evening that you were sadly in need of sleep. So,
if you had not been awake, I should have stolen away as noiselessly as
I entered, and left you to have your nap out. Now, however, I think
you had better come to breakfast, for Sabella and I finished ours some
time ago."
"Thank you, sir," said Winn. "I will be out in half a minute; but will
you please explain that painting? I have been studying it ever since I
woke."
"That," replied the Captain, with an accent of honest pride, "is what I
consider one of my _chef-dovers_. I term it a 'Shakespearian
composite.' In order to please the tastes of certain audiences, I
shall describe it as the balcony scene between Romeo and Juliet.
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