United States or Slovenia ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
"May I ask what is the nature of your studies navigation?" "Navigation!" shouted the captain with another laugh so rich and racy that poor Liffie Lee almost entered in defiance of orders; "no, Miss Kate, it ain't navigation! I've bin pretty well grounded in that subject for the last forty years. No, my study now is theology." "Theology!" exclaimed the sisters in surprise. "Yes, theology.
The first shock experienced by our quartette was caused by the door. From some inscrutable impulse Liffie Lee had locked it after Ruth had rushed in. "Open it gently," whispered Jessie, for the party had now got to the condition of feeling very much as if they were themselves burglars, engaged in some unholy enterprise, and feared to arouse sleepers.
"Avast there!" he shouted, rising promptly. "Come in, lass. Come in no damage done." "Oh! sir," exclaimed the horrified Liffie, "I ax your parding." "Don't put yourself about my girl. I'm used to collisions, and it's not in the power o' your small carcass to do me damage."
Liffie, what a frightened thing you are," remonstrated Jessie, "go and show the man in at once." "Oh! no, Miss," pleaded Liffie, "you'd better 'ave 'im took up at once. You've no notion what dreadful men that sort are. I know 'em well. We've got some of 'em where we live, and and they're awful!" Another knock at this point cut the conversation short, and Kate herself went to open the door.
Disrobing himself as he spoke, the lodger retired to his cabin to lay aside his curious garment, and Liffie, assisted by Kate, took advantage of his absence to spread their little board. "I never saw such a man," said Kate in a low voice as she bustled about. "Saw!" exclaimed Jessie under her breath, "I never even conceived of such a man.
Indeed we may say that four gloated over it, for Liffie Lee, unable to restrain her curiosity, put her head in at the door at first with the more or less honest intention of asking if "hany think was wanted," and afterwards let her head remain from sheer inability to withdraw it.
A minute later Liffie appeared with her mouth and eyes like three round O's. "If you please, ma'am, here's Mister and Missis Dalton, as wants to know if they may come in." "Mr and Mrs who?" exclaimed both sisters. "Mister an' Missis Dalton," repeated Liffie. "Show them in at once, child. Some ridiculous mistake," said Jessie, glancing at Kate. "But, stay, Liffie; you have no objection, captain?"
Besides these guests, and a host of others who were attracted by the unusual interest displayed in this wedding, there were several people with whom we may claim some slight acquaintance, such as Miss Jessie Seaward and her sister, who wept much with joy, and laughed not a little at being so foolish as to cry, and Liffie Lee, who was roused with excitement to the condition of a half-tamed wildcat, but was so dressed up and brushed down and washed out that her best friend might have failed to recognise her.
Then he turned his awful gaze on the small servant who almost shrank before it. "Liffie, my dear." "Y-yes, sir." "Bring me a table-spoon, the biggest one you have." "Yes, sir," she said, and vanished. Presently she returned with an enormous gravy spoon. "Ha! ha!" shouted the captain, with much of his old fire; "that's better than I had hoped for! Hand it here, Liffie; it'll do."
I've fairly given up my connection with my last ship, and as the new commander took possession this morning I was obliged to bring away my last box. Now, I don't want Liffie to move it about when putting things to rights, or to meddle with it in any way. When we want to sweep behind or under it I'll shift it myself.
Word Of The Day