Jansell,
"and sent me to sleep, and too--too--took me away. My husband'll kill
me; I know he will. Take me back."
"What do you want to be took back to be killed for?" interposed one of
the men judicially.
"I might ha' known what he meant when he said I brightened the cabin
up," said Mrs. Jansell; "and when he said he thought me and my daughter
were sisters. He said he'd like me to sit there always, the wretch!"
"Did you say that?" inquired the skipper fiercely.
"Well, I did," said the miserable mate; "but I didn't mean her to take
it that way. She went to sleep, and I forgot all about her."
"What did you say such silly lies for, then?" demanded the skipper.
The mate hung his head.
"Old enough to be your mother too," said the skipper severely. "Here's a
nice thing to happen aboard my ship, and afore the boy too!"
"Blast the boy!" said the goaded mate.
"Take me back," wailed Mrs. Jansell; "you don't know how jealous my
husband is."
"He won't hurt you," said the skipper kindly "he won't be jealous of a
woman your time o' life; that is, not if he's got any sense. You'll have
to go as far as Boston with us now. I've lost too much time already to
go back."
"You must take me back," said Mrs. Jansell passionately.
"I'm not going back for anybody," said the skipper.
Pages:
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185