"Who is Sophy Puller?" asked he, thinking to himself, "I hope that the giver of that trumpery is not of a piece with her gift."
"She's a milliner's apprentice, and such a dear girl!" cried the artless Norah. "She often drops in to tea, and we have such famous gossips together over our bread and butter! It is so friendly and pleasant!"
"And do you get your mistress's leave to entertain this messmate?" inquired the sailor.
Nosh's smooth cheek flushed, and she looked a little embarrassed, as, without answering her uncle's question directly, she said, "I don't think there can be any harm."
"Harm indeed!" exclaimed Bessy Peele, warmly. "It would be hard indeed if a poor girl could not give a slice of bread and butter to a friend."
"At her mistress's expense," added Ned.
Norah appeared uneasy and confused, and turned her inquiring eyes on her uncle, as if he had suggested some painful doubt which had never before entered into her mind.
Mrs. Peele called away her attention.
"Let's see what you've brought in that parcel, my darling; it's never empty-handed as Norah comes to her mother!"
The parcel was carried to the window, and Ned Franks, who had no curiosity to know its contents, sat down again to his writing.