“’Tonio, ’Tonio, you isn’t ill, is you?”
He roused himself at once, and smiled as he patted her hand.
He had given way for a time to a depression that was almost selfish; but now he remembered that he was the centre, as it were, of all the life on board, and had duties to perform, which he determined not to shirk.
“Oh, dearie,” he replied, “I had a little bit of a headache, you know, but it is better now.”
“Wait!” cried Teenie.
She went off at the run, but by-and-by returned, walking rather unsteadily, because she bore in her two hands a large cup of fragrant tea.
“Oh, thank you, Teenie. I’m so pleased.”
He drank the tea, and in another hour walked into the saloon, to all outward appearance his own old self again.
“Glad indeed to see you, sir,” cried Barclay.
“And so we all are,” said Archie the mate. “You feel better?”