"Um-hmm!" thought kind Mrs. Gilmore, and, "Oh, ho!" mused the Californian, not quite so unselfishly.
Around in front of the bell both youth and maiden observed how palely the derrick posts loomed against the spectral chimneys and their smoke, and silently recalled their first meeting, just here, in the long ago of two days earlier. The captain's chair was occupied.
"Well, father," said Hugh.
"Good evening," twittered Ramsey.
"Good evening, Miss Ramsey. Be back this way, Hugh?"
"In a moment, sir." They passed on. Ramsey looked behind at the Californian.
"What does he want to know about me?" she asked.
"He says," said Hugh, "he's nursed this sickness at sea and at Panama and hasn't the slightest fear of it."
"Humph!... That's not about me."
"Yes, it—was. He's taken a great fancy——"