"Oh! Thank you, Mr.Franklin.
I'll help my father up." Flabbergasted me--to be choked off like this.
Pushed in between him and me without as much as a look my way.

So of course I dropped it.

What do you think?
I fell back.

I would have gone up on board at once and left them on the quay to come up or stay there till next week, only they were blocking the way.

I couldn't very well shove them on one side.