“I’m not quite so sure of that.”
“He’s very anxious to see little Billy,” said Gascoigne.
“What do you know of little Billy, young man?”
“And more than anxious to be on shore again. He’s quite tired of sleeping single, Mrs Oxbelly.”
“Ah, very well, he has been talking, has he? very well,” exclaimed the lady in a rage.
“But,” said Easy, “I am happy to say that, with pay and prize-money, during his short absence, he has brought home nearly five hundred pounds.”
“Five hundred pounds—you don’t say so, sir?” exclaimed Mrs Oxbelly; “are you sure of that?”
“Quite sure,” rejoined Gascoigne.
“Five hundred pounds!—Well, that is comfortable—dear me! how glad I shall be to see him! Well, Mr Easy, it was hard to part with him in so unhandsome a way—but all’s for the best in this world. What a dear, nice lady your wife is, Mr Easy—but I won’t intrude—I beg pardon. Where is the brig, Mr Easy?”
“Now coming into the harbour,” replied Gascoigne: “if you bargain you can get off for twopence.”