"Why, yes, a good bit farther I should say; but it's wonderful how them trains whirl you along. Now, I'm going to have some supper, and you must have some with me. Yes, yes, that's only fair, since you've been feeding my cat."
"Ah, but Mrs. Brown gave me the meat for him," said Bert.
"No matter. You had the trouble of feeding him," said the old man, liking the boy the better for the acknowledgment.
Bert watched with interest as the old man made up his fire and set the kettle on it, preparatory to making some cocoa.
"Did you go to Liverpool to see a friend, Mr.—?" he hesitated, not being sure of the name.
"I'm called Corney," said the sailor; "not that it's my real name, but it does as well as any other. My mother, who was a wonderful hand at Bible names, called me Cornelius Theophilus, and my mates soon shortened that into 'Corney.' No, I didn't go to Liverpool to see a friend; I went to try to get some news of my sister; but I don't suppose it would have been any good if I'd stayed longer. All who knew her and me have disappeared."
"Then you had a sister, Mr. Corney?"
"Yes, I had a sister; and I don't know now whether she's living or dead. Her name was Priscilla. That's in the Bible, too, you know."
Bert did not know much about the Bible, nor was he desirous of such knowledge; but he was full of curiosity respecting this lodger, and anxious to make the most of this opportunity of gratifying it.
"But you've got a friend, haven't you, Mr. Corney?" he said.