"Oh" said the captain incredulously.
"You know he used to like me too much. But he knows me better now."
"Charming frankness of friendship!" said Locker.
"And as I like him very much, I am glad he is here," continued Olive.
The young man bowed in gratitude, but Olive's words embarrassed him somewhat, and he did not know exactly what would be suitable for him to say. So he took refuge in a change of subject. "Captain," said he, "can you fish?"
A look of scornful amazement showed itself upon the old mariner's face. "I have tried it," said he.
"And so have I," cried Locker, "but I never had any luck in fishing and—some other things. I am vilely unlucky. I expect that's because I don't know how to fish."
"It is very likely," said Olive, "that your bad luck comes from not knowing where to fish."
The young man took off his hat and held it for a little while, although the sun was very hot.
During the course of that afternoon and evening Captain Asher grew to like Claude Locker. The young man told such gravely comical stories, especially about his experiences in boats and on the water, that the captain was very glad he had happened to drop down upon that especial watering-place. He wanted Olive to have some society besides his own, and a discarded lover was better than any other young man they might meet. He knew that Olive was a girl who would not go back on her word.