The minister smiled. “Afraid of the fair sex, Cap’n?”
“No. Just wise to ’em.”
“Why don’t you take the suggestion I made some time ago?”
“Meaning, which?”
“Have some one come in once a week to clean up.”
“It needs something more than a cleaner round here. What we want is a cook. I cal’late we’d best ship a general housekeeper.”
“A housekeeper!” exclaimed Mr. McGowan, suddenly breaking off a wide yawn.
The skipper blew a cloud of smoke and watched it thin out into the air above his head.
“And you have just declared that you didn’t intend to propose. I’m afraid–––”