"Fanny," I exclaimed, in delight, "you are a dear girl, the very dearest——"
"No," she said, "no!"
"That I ever saw. If there weren't so many folks about, I would kiss you!"
And I meant it, but Fanny burst into laughter.
"The idea! I should like to see you try it. I would box your ears till they were as red as beetroot. But there, Tom, I am glad you are coming on this dirty steamer. For I have no one to talk to now but Elsie, and she won't talk at all."
However, Fanny's little woes did not trouble me much, for I was thinking of my own, and wondering how I ought to act.
"Fanny," said I, "tell me what I shall do. Shall I lie low and not show up until we are out at sea, or what?"
"If you don't want them to see you, you had better look sharp, for they are coming up now, I see Elsie's hat," said Fanny. And I dived out of sight round the deck house, and by dint of skillful navigation I got into my bunk without any one seeing me.
Now, the way Elsie found out I was on board was very curious, and perhaps more pleasing to Fanny than to her. My bunk was an upper one, and through the open porthole I could look out on to the wharf. As I lay there, in a much happier frame of mind than I had known for many days, I stared out carelessly, watching the men at work, and the passers-by; and suddenly to my great astonishment, I saw young Harmer looking very miserable and unhappy. He had left the Vancouver, too, but of course without leave, as he was an apprentice. Now, if I was surprised I was angry, too. It was such a foolish trick, and I thought I would give him a talking to at once. I spoke through the port.
"You infernal young fool!" said I, "what are you doing here? Why did you leave your ship?"