"
"Gimme a kiss, Meg, an' git aboard," said the skipper, leaning on his
stick and turning his cheek to his daughter, who obediently gave him a
perfunctory kiss on the left eyebrow, and sprang lightly aboard the
barge.
"Cast off," said she, in a business-like manner, as she seized a boat-
hook and pushed off from the jetty. "Ta ta, Dad, and go straight home,
mind; the cab's waiting."
"Ay, ay, my dear," said the proud father, his eye moistening with
paternal pride as his daughter, throwing off her jacket, ran and
assisted the mate with the sail. "Lord, what a fine boy she would have
made!"
He watched the barge until she was well under way, and then, waving his
hand to his daughter, crawled slowly back to the cab; and, being to a
certain extent a believer in homeopathy, treated his complaint with a
glass of rum.
"I'm sorry your father's so bad, miss," said the mate, who was still
somewhat dazed by the recent proceedings, as the girl came up and took
the wheel from him. "He was complaining a goodish bit all the way up."
"A wilful man must have his way," said Miss Cringle, with a shake of her
head. "It's no good me saying anything, because directly my back's
turned he has his own way again."
The mate shook his head despondently.
"You'd better get your bedding up and make your arrangements forward,"
said the new skipper presently.
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