"Good-night."
"I've told her over and over again, sir," was the reply, "and all she
says is she's not afraid of you, nor six like you."
[Illustration: "All she says is she's not afraid of you, nor six like
you."]
The captain fell back silent, and Mr. Tasker, pausing in a respectful
attitude, watched him wistfully. The captain's brows were bent in
thought, and Mr. Tasker, reminding himself that crews had trembled at his
nod and that all were silent when he spoke, felt a flutter of hope.
"Well," said the captain, sharply, as he turned and caught sight of him,
"what are you waiting there for?"
Mr. Tasker drifted towards the door which led upstairs.
"I--I thought you were thinking of something we could do to prevent her
coming, sir," he said, slowly. "It's hard on me, because as a matter of
fact----"
"Well?" said the captain.
"I--I've 'ad my eye on another young lady for some time," concluded Mr.
Tasker.
He was standing on the bottom stair as he spoke, with his hand on the
latch. Under the baleful stare with which the indignant captain favoured
him, he closed it softly and mounted heavily to bed.
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