“I told you so, old lady; ay, and he’ll just do for you as well as Peter did; but I’ll leave you to settle matters, for I must be a-board.”
So saying, the lad tipped a wink to Joey, the meaning of which our hero did not understand, and went downstairs.
“Well, now, it’s very odd; but do you know you are like poor Peter, and the more I look at you the more you are like him: poor Peter! did you hear how I lost him?”
“Yes, the sailor lad told me this morning.”
“Poor fellow! he held on too fast; most people drown by not holding on fast enough: he was a good boy, and very smart indeed; and so it was you who helped me this morning when I missed poor Peter so much? Well, it showed you had a good heart, and I love that; and where did you meet with Jim Paterson?”
“I met him first in a slop-shop, as he calls it, when I was buying my clothes.”
“Well, Jim’s a wild one, but he has a good heart, and pays when he can. I’ve been told by those who know his parents, that he will have property by-and-bye. Well, and what can you do? I am afraid you can’t do all Peter did.”
“I can keep your accounts, and I can be honest and true to you.”
“Well, Peter could not do more: are you sure you can keep accounts, and sum up totals?”
“Yes, to be sure I can; try me.”