Thompson now lighted a cigar, and puffed away like a locomotive, to avoid answering further questions.
At this moment a very pretty half-caste girl glided into the verandah, and taking her place behind the merchant's chair, commenced to fan him. Alayā was a great pet of Oldcrackle, her father having died in his service, and we will do the merchant the justice to say, he was a kind master, both to the widow and daughter—the latter having budded into womanhood without any one regarding her otherwise than as a child.
"Well, Alayā," said her master, "do you see the captain sahib?"
The girl nodded and smiled at Jerry.
"Go and fan him, child."
Alayā walked round, and taking position behind the coxswain's chair—so close that he felt her balmy breath upon his forehead—proceeded to cool his face with a soft and gentle motion of her fan, at the same time looking down upon him, from under her long silken eyelashes, in a manner that would have seduced a much less susceptible individual than our sailor.
"Oh Lor! ain't that lovely!" ejaculated the coxswain, as leaning back he brought his eyes to bear upon those of the lovely girl, who fanned and smiled—smiled and gazed upon him, until Jerry, instead of being cool, was in a high state of fever.
Oldcrackle was all this time gazing upon Mrs. Puffeigh's portrait; and as he slightly turned his back upon her husband when he did this, failed to observe the little flirtation going on at the other side of the verandah, although the moon was shining brightly. At last he said, in a dreamy kind of manner,
"Ah! she's a lovely creature."
"Werry," echoed the sailor, pursing his lips, and blowing kisses towards the delighted girl by his side.