“You have heard how poor Markham was killed, and Tynan and Lewis and Arden?”
Jim nodded and tightened his grip of the hands until she winced.
“What a brute I am!” he penitently exclaimed, covering the little hands with kisses.
“I—I liked it, Jim.—— But you know you oughtn’t to reward yourself for being a brute.”
There was another interval of silence.
“And so the young ’un has behaved like a brick!” said Jim at length. “I’m proud of the kid.”
“I should just think he has. I really believe I shall have to marry you, Captain Russell, if only to have Ted for a brother. I think he likes me now.”
“I’ll punch the young ’un’s head if he doesn’t,” declared the brutal Jim. “It’s very decent of the others to give us this good time, little woman.”
“It is, indeed. Oh, Jim, are you sure we’re not dreaming? Can you stay here with your men?”
The captain shook his head sadly.