"Well, you'd better not, that's all! But what do you mean by your candy, and your theatre orders? Speak out!"
"I means all right; that's what I means. I never walked with a gal before in my life, and I likes Polly too much to come here and not mean anything."
"But what do you want to walk with her for?" screamed the excited matron who began to fear her sister would return before she had wormed the confession out of the bashful young carpenter.
"Why I wants to marry she, but she be so mighty shy, that I haven't had a chance," bellowed the youth in his own patois; "there! now I feels better, havin' told you."
Upon this Mrs. Shever mollified her manner, and having agreed to his proposal to visit the theatre, she dismissed him with the remark that if he didn't declare his intentions that evening she'd wait for him, as he left the dockyard the next day.
About half-past six Mary Ann and her sister were dressed and awaiting his arrival, when a knock was heard at the front door, and presently in marched the enamoured youth, bearing in each hand an enormous bouquet made up of cabbage roses, and other sweet-smelling but somewhat gaudy flowers. As he advanced he caught Mrs. Shever's eye, and recollecting her threat, plumped down upon one knee, dropped his offerings, and blurted out,
"Mary Ann, wilt have me for your feller?"
The boatswain's wife prudently left the room.
"Come, lass, thee might as well say yea. I'm moighty fond of thee."
"Really, Mr. Jenkins, you have taken me so by surprise, I—Don't squeeze my hand so,—you're hurting me."