Niven, however, looked round with a flush on his face. "That's not straight talk, Tom," he said. "You know my mother would do almost anything for you, and there's the rest of them. Even Nettie, and she has the faddiest notions, took to you."
"Hadn't you better get on with your writing, sonny?" said Jordan dryly. "She's your mother, and not his, anyway."
Niven made another dab at the inkpot, and though it was difficult to keep his feet at the table as the schooner rose and fell he finished his letter. He was about to fold it up when Jordan glanced at him. "You've put something 'bout me and the Champlain in?" he said.
"Yes, sir," said Niven.
"Well," said Jordan, "I'd like to hear that part of it."
Niven flushed a trifle, and sat still a moment twisting round his pen before he said, "It isn't worth listening to."
"Still," said Jordan grimly, "I'm waiting to hear it. Start in."
Niven looked round at Appleby, but Appleby only grinned, and then with the colour showing plainer in his face read a line or two. "The skipper has, taking it all round, been very good to us. He's——" The lad stopped for a moment. "This piece isn't of any moment. I'll leave it out, sir."
"I can tell better when you've read it," said Jordan.
Niven made a little half-conscious gesture of dismay, but he had reasons for remembering that when Jordan asked for anything it was wise to give it him, and he continued hastily, "He's quite a clever man in his own way, though nobody would fancy it from his appearance."