Peter Paul got red
"Vrow Schmidt's niece is a very nice young lady," said he.
He was not thinking of Vrow Schmidt's niece, he was thinking of something else—something for which he would have liked a little sympathy; but he doubted whether Leena could give it to him. Indeed, to cure heartache is Godfather Time's business, and even he is not invariably successful. It was probably a sharp twinge that made Peter Paul say, "Have you never wondered that when one's life is so very short, one can manage to get so much pain into it?"
Leena dropped her work and looked up. "You don't say so?" said she. "Dear Brother, is it rheumatism? I'm sure it must be a dreadful risk being out on the masts in the night air, without a roof over your head. But do you wear flannel, Peter Paul? Mother was very much troubled with rheumatism latterly. She thought it was the dews at milking time, and she always wore flannel."
"Yes, dear, Mother always wore flannel," said Anna.
Peter Paul satisfied them on this head. He wore flannel, red flannel too, which has virtues of its own.
Leena was more anxious than ever that he should marry Vrow Schmidt's niece, and be taken good care of.
But it was not to be: Peter Paul went back to his ship and into the wide world again.
Uncle Jacob would have given him an off-set of his new tulip—a real novelty, and named—if he had had any place to plant it in.
"I've a bed of breeders that will be worth looking at next time you come home," said he.