"Poor mother," she said caressingly. "What did you bring that lunatic
back with you for?"
"He would come," said Mrs. Jansell. "Hush! here comes your father."
The master of the Aquila came on deck as she spoke, and walking slowly
up to the group, stood sternly regarding them. Under his gaze the mate
breathlessly reeled off his tale, noticing with somewhat mixed feelings
the widening grin of his listener as he proceeded.
"Well, you're a lively sort o' man," said the skipper as he finished.
"In one day you tie up your own ship, run off with my wife, and lose us
a tide. Are you always like that?"
"I want somebody to look after me, I s'pose," said the mate, with a side
glance at Nancy.
"Well, we'd put you up for the night," said the skipper, with his arm
round his wife's shoulders; "but you're such a chap. I'm afraid you'd
burn the ship down, or something. What do you think, old girl?"
"I think we'll try him this once," said his wife. "And now I'll go down
and see about supper; I want it."
The old couple went below, and the young one remained on deck. Nancy
went and leaned against the side; and as she appeared to have quite
forgotten his presence, the mate, after some hesitation, joined her.
"Hadn't you better go down and get some supper?" she asked.
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