“I ain’t interested in your fears, young man. I’m too old a sea-dog for any of them new-fangled tricks. But being as you’re set on staying here I’ve decided that we’ll take a woman aboard to look after the mess and swab decks.”
The minister became serious. “Is that practical in our present position?”
“Practical in our present position? If it ain’t, then I’d like to know when in the name of all my ancestors such a thing is practical. Mack–––”
“I mean from the financial point of view. The boxing match seems to have hit the pocketbooks of the church members harder than the man from the city hit me. At least, 117 something has given them almost total paralysis.”
“Who’s asking you to consarn yourself with a woman’s keep? I ain’t, be I?”
“I hope you don’t think that I’d permit you to bring a housekeeper in here for me unless you give me the privilege of sharing in the expense.”
“Mack, this here place ain’t your house. Cal’late I’ll do about as I please on that p’int.”
“If I can’t stand the expense with part salary, you certainly can’t stand it with none,” persisted the minister.
“I ain’t sartin it would cost anything. Leastwise, it won’t cost much. I ain’t sartin,”––repeated the Captain as though in meditation,––“but I think she’ll come.”
“Who?”