“My dear child—my dear Mrs Pugh.”
“I must see him—pray, pray take me to him,” she sobbed, “it is more than I can—more than I can bear.”
Mr Parkley caught her again just in time, for she swooned away, and laying her upon the deck he tried hard to restore her. Then looking up he became aware that the lights of the town were fast receding.
“Why, Studwick,” he exclaimed, “the schooner’s moving.”
“Yes,” said the captain.
“But the boat this poor girl came off in?”
“Ashore by this time.”
“But we can’t take her. Hang it, man, we cannot have domestic differences on board. She must go back.”
“We must now land her at Plymouth,” said the captain. “Send for my Bessy, man, she will soon bring her to. How foolish of the little woman to come aboard.”
“Shall I fetch the young lady, sir?” said Sam Oakum gruffly, as he stood with a look of disgust upon his face.