“It ain’t likely she’ll get away, that’s sartin sure, but I thought I’d do a little work on 139 her. I ain’t had much time afore now, with all my cooking and keeping house. The minister said my engine wa’n’t clean.”
“Well, if you ain’t been cooking better than you’ve been keeping house, the wonder is you ain’t both dead,” she said, peering about the room.
Fearing further comment, the Captain hastily left the house. On reaching the wharf, he was surprised to see Elizabeth walking from the far end to meet him.
“Morning, Beth. Out purty early for your constitutional, ain’t you?”
“Good morning, Uncle Josiah. I’ve been waiting for you an awful long time. Are you going out to the Jennie P.?”
“That’s my calculation. Want to go along?”
“If I may.”
“Of course you can. Did you leave something aboard last night?”
“No. I just came down here on purpose to see you. I felt certain you would be going out.”
“You come down just to see me? What do 140 you want to see an old feller like me for? Now, if it was–––”