“The most of ’em are that way, but Clemmie’s different from the common run. I know I’m an old fool for wishing it, but it ain’t easy to give up the woman you love, even after long years of her saying no to you.”
“You’re right, Cap’n. It isn’t easy to give up the woman you love.”
The minister gave the fire a vigorous poke, sending a thick shower of sparks up the chimney. The seaman glanced at him.
“Have you the slightest idea where your brother is?”
“No. I ain’t heerd from him for more than twenty years, and then it wa’n’t direct. He left because he was ’feared Clemmie was going to make him marry her, and he knew if he took to sailing the seas she’d never foller him. Damn him! He didn’t treat her square. That’s why I don’t have much use for him. If he’d told her out and out that he wa’n’t going to marry her, I’d forgive him. But–––”
“Did Mr. Fox know this half-brother?”
“About as well as he knew the rest of us about town. He always was sort of h’ity-t’ity, Jim was.”
“Did he know him better after they left Little River?”
“Mack, I ain’t got your tack, yet. Mind telling me where you’re heading?”