“I don’t know that she’s so awfully lucky with me on her hands,” laughed O’Donnell, “but I do think a lot of her, child.”
“Child? to me? But you don’t remember me, Captain?”
“Indeed, and I do, and well remember you. And it’s the beautiful woman you’ve grown to be. But you always were a lovely child. It’s often my wife spoke of you and wondered how you were. She’s heard me speak of your father a hundred times, I know. A brave man your father, girl. 229 And she’ll be glad to see you any time, little girl––or the daughter of any fisherman lost at sea. If ever you have a blue day, go to her, for ’tis she has the heart––and, God bless her, an extra weakness for orphans. Her own children some day––there’s no telling. But good-night to you, dear”––he patted her head––“good-night all. Wesley, Tommie, Patsie––all of ye, good-night. In the morning we’ll have it out.” Out the door he went, and I fancied there was almost a blush on Minnie Arkell’s face.
Tom O’Donnell was the kind of a man a fellow would like to have for a father.
XXIX
MAURICE BLAKE COMES HOME
From Mrs. Arkell’s we walked back to Clancy’s boarding house. Clancy wanted to see how they made out with the punch. We found several of them up in the wind, and so no great danger of them. But two or three of them, Dave Campbell particularly, were running wild. “Boomed out and driving,” said Clancy, and began to remonstrate with Dave on the evils of intemperance. He went on quite awhile, but Dave showed no signs of remorse. “Wait and I’ll fix him,” said Clancy, and obeying a motioning with his head two or three of the sober ones followed him out.
He led the way to the wood-shed next door where there was a goat, and the goat we carried up three flights of stairs to Campbell’s room. He was a big, able goat, and we had quite a time to get him up stairs. At last we got him tied to the post of Campbell’s bed. Then we went down stairs to the kitchen and Clancy persuaded Campbell to go up stairs to bed, which after awhile he did. It was not yet morning and there was no light in the bedroom. 231 We took our position on the landing outside where we could hear everything that went on in Campbell’s room, which was just at the head of the stairs.