Hardie consented with twinkling composure.
Before dinner she caught Kenealy, drew him aside, and put on a long face. “I am afraid I must lose you to-day at dinner. Mr. Dodd is quite a stranger, and they all tell me I must put him at his ease.
“Yaas.”
“Well, then, you had better get next Lucy, as you can't have me.”
“Yaas.”
“And, Captain Kenealy, you are my aid-de-camp. It is a delightful post, you know, and rather a troublesome one.”
“Yaas.”
“You must help me be kind to this sailor.”
“Yaas. He is a good fellaa. Carried the baeg for the little caed.”
“Oh, did he?”