Tavernake was silent for a moment. Then he got up and threw down his tools.
“Great Heavens!” he exclaimed. “If I am not becoming the most selfish brute that ever breathed! Do you know, the first thought I had was that I should miss you? You are right, young woman, I must get out of this.”
She disappeared into the house, smiling, and Tavernake called out to Nicholls, who was sitting on the wall.
“Mr. Nicholls,” he asked, “how much notice do you want?”
Matthew Nicholls removed his pipe from his mouth.
“Why, I don't know that I'm particular,” he replied, “being as you want to go. Between you and me, I'm gettin' fat and lazy since you came. There ain't enough work for two, and that's all there is to it, and being as you're young and active, why, I've left it to you, and look at my arms.”
He held them up.
“Used to be all muscle, now they're nothin' but bloomin' pap. And no' but two glasses of beer a day extra have I drunk, just to pass the time. You can stay if you will, young man, but you can go out fishin' and leave me the work, and I'll pay you just the same, for I'm not saying that I don't like your company. Or you can go when you please, and that's the end of it.”
Matthew Nicholls spat upon the stones and replaced his pipe in his mouth. Tavernake came in and sat down by his side.
“Look here,” he said, “I believe you are right. I'll stay another week but I'll take things easy. You get on with the boat now. I'll sit here and have a smoke.”