Bob and Nellie meanwhile had been whispering together and comparing notes apparently as to the state of their respective funds; for, Nellie had extracted a little leather purse from some hidden receptacle in her dress, while Bob was feeling in his pockets. Before either could speak, however, Captain Dresser anticipated their evident intention.
“Suppose now I paid your fare for you?” he went on, addressing Dick. “What would you say to that, eh?”
“Lor’, sir, I’d be orful grateful, that I’d be, sir—I would indeed, sir,” eagerly replied the lad in an outburst of thankfulness; “and if, sir, I could work it out in any way so as to repay the money, I’d be that glad yer wouldn’t know me.”
“Humph!” grunted the Captain again. “We’ll see about that.”
Bob and Nellie, both of whom had been listening with intense interest to Dick’s cross-examination, were quite carried away with enthusiasm at this happy termination of the animated discussion that had gone on.
“Oh, you dear Captain,” cried Nellie, hugging the old sailor rapturously. “You’ve just done what Bob and I wished.”
“Have I?” said he smiling. “I don’t see it, I’m sure.”
“Yes, you have, you have,” she replied impulsively. “Bob and I were just going to offer the same thing when you took the words out of our mouth.”
“And the money out of my pocket, eh?” slyly added the Captain with a chuckle—“eh, missy?”
“But we’d like to pay too,” said Bob. “Let us go shares, sir.”