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“Just as she stepped on ship board, ‘Your name I’d like to know?’ And with a smile she answered, ‘My name is Jack Monroe.’” |
“Thanks; glad to find so charming a namesake,” said a deep voice, and she looked up to see a tall man gazing down at her with a smile so kindly she should never have guessed he was a Yankee but for the blue uniform.
“Oh!” she blushed deliciously, and then laughed. There really was no use trying to be dignified with a stranger after such a meeting as that.
“I never did mean to steal your name, Captain Monroe,” she explained, “for you are Captain Monroe?”
“Yes, except when I am Jack,” and then they both smiled.
“Oh, I’ve known Jack was your name, too, for this long time,” she said, with a little air of impressing him with her knowledge; “but I couldn’t call you that, except in the song.”
“May I express the hope that you sing the song often?” he asked, with an attempt at gravity not entirely successful.
“But you don’t know who I am, do you?” and when he shook his head sadly she added, “but of course you’ve heard of me; I’m Evilena.”
“Evilena?”
“Evilena McVeigh,” she said, with a trifle of emphasis.