“If I didn’t think so, your worship, I wouldn’t propose to buy her. It would be nothing to me to own the girl, if she wasn’t agreeable.”
“She is agreeable, then?”
“Well, worship, I think so. Not that she don’t like the young mistress that owns her at present; but, you see, your worship—but—”
“But there’s somebody she likes better than her mistress; and that’s yourself, Master Cubina?”
“Well, you see, worship, that’s a different sort of liking, and—”
“True enough—true enough!” interrupted Mr Vaughan, as if wishing to come to the end of the conversation—at least, upon that particular topic.
“Well, Captain Cubina,” he added, “suppose I was willing to part with Yola, how much could you afford to give for her? Mind you, I don’t say I am willing: for, after all, the girl belongs to my daughter; and she would have something to say in the matter.”
“Ah, sir!” exclaimed Cubina, in a tone of tender confidence, “Miss Vaughan is good and generous. I’ve often heard say so. I am sure she would never stand in the way of Yola’s being happy.”
“Oh, you think it would make Yola happy, do you?”
“I hope so, your worship,” answered the Maroon, modestly dropping his eyelids as he made the reply.