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The seaman was evidently unaccustomed to such scenes, for more than once during the short period of his progress down the lane, he uttered an exclamation of alarm, and sprang to the rescue of those large babies which are supposed to have grown sufficiently old to become nursing mothers to smaller babies acts which were viewed with a look of pity by the small boy, and called from him the encouraging observations, "Keep your mind easy, capp'n; they're all right, bless you; the hosses knows 'em, and wouldn't 'urt 'em on no account."
"All right, Capp'n," answered the imp, "I'll go to Guy's Hospital d'rectly and 'ave three-fourths of it ampitated." "Do," said the Captain, somewhat sternly, "an' ask 'em to attach a brake to the bit that's left. "Now, lad," he continued, "you've got a very dirty face." Gillie nodded, with his lips tightly compressed to check utterance. "And a very ragged head of hair," he added.
I say, capp'n, wot's this?" at the same time, however, putting the coin in his pocket with an air which plainly said, "Whether you've made a mistake or not, you needn't expect to get it back again." Evidently the seaman entertained no such expectations, for he turned away and became absorbed in the scene around him. It was not cheering.
"Wot sort o' copper?" demanded the urchin, "there's three sorts of 'em, you know, in this 'ere kingdom which appears to be a queendom at present there's a farding and a ha'penny and a penny. I mention it, capp'n," he added apologetically, "in case you don't know, for you look as if you'd come from furrin parts."
"My name," said the seaman, "is Wopper, tho' I'm oftener called Skipper, also Capp'n, by those who know me." Mrs Roby pointed to a chair and begged Captain Wopper to sit down, which he did after bestowing a somewhat pointed glance at the chair, as if to make sure that it could bear him. "You was a nuss once, I'm told," continued the seaman, looking steadily at Mrs Roby as he sat down.
"All right, capp'n," returned the small boy, "foller me, an' don't be frightened. Port your helm a bit here, there's a quicksand in the middle o' the track so, steady!"
"Lost yer bearin's, capp'n?" exclaimed a shrill pert voice at his side. The seaman looked down, and beheld a small boy with a head like a disorderly door-mat, and garments to match. He stood in what may be styled an imitative attitude, with his hands thrust into his ragged pockets, his little legs planted wide apart, his cap thrust well back on his head, and his eyebrows wrinkled.
"Most men," he said, "felt gaspy in Turkish baths, and weak ones were alarmed lest they should get suffocated beyond recovery; but strong men rather enjoy themselves in 'em than otherwise." "Hah!" exclaimed the imp, "may I wentur' to ax, Capp'n, wot's the effect on boys?" To this the Captain replied that he didn't exactly know, never having heard of boys taking Turkish baths.
If he ever was, he don't look much like one now, for he's six-feet nothin' in his socks, an' drinks like a fish, if he don't do nothin' wuss. Good-night Capp'n. Baby'll ketch cold if I keep on jawin' here. Mind your weather eye, and port your helm when you reach the landin'. If you'll take the advice of a young salt, you'll clew up your mainsail an' dowse some of your top-hamper ah! I thought so!"
"That's not very curious is it?" said Susan, quietly; "it's common enough, anyhow." "Ah, some kinds of it, yes," returned Gillie, with the air of a philosopher, "but at Chamouni the disease appears to have become viroolent an' pecoolier. There's the Capp'n, he's falled in love wi' the Professor, an' it seems to me that the attachment is mootooal.
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