He wore an overcoat, however, and leaned upon a massive ebony cane, while he carried his daughter's guitar in its case, exactly as though they were waiting for a train.

Moreover, I thought that for the first time he was regarding me with no very favoring glance.
"You don't think it serious ?" I asked him abruptly, my heart still bounding with the most incongruous joy.
He gave me his ambiguous shrug; and then, "A fire at sea is surely sirrious," said he.
"Where did it break out ?" "No one knows; it may have come of your concert." "But they are getting the better of it ?" "They are working wonders so far, senhor." "You see, Miss Denison," I continued ecstatically, "our rough old diamond of a skipper is the right man in the right place after all.

A tight man in a tight place, eh ?" and I laughed like an idiot in their calm grave faces.
"Senhor Cole is right," said Santos, "although his 'ilarity sims a leetle out of place.

But you must never spik against Captain 'Arrees again, menma." "I never will," the poor child said; yet I saw her wince whenever the captain raised that hoarse voice of his in more and more blasphemous exhortation; and I began to fear with Ready that the man was drunk.
My eyes were still upon my darling, devouring her, revelling in her, when suddenly I saw her hand twitch within her step-father's arm.

It was an answering start to one on his part.