"Jus' so, my son."
"An' I jus' lied an' lied an' lied!"
"Mm-m."
Skipper Harry lifted the lad t' the counter, then, an' bent to a level with his eyes.
"Look me in the eye, son," says he. "I've a grave word t' say t' you. Will you listen well an' ponder?"
"I'll ponder, sir, an you'll jus' forgive my fault."
"Sammy, my son," says the skipper, "I forgives it freely. Now, listen t' me. Is you listenin'? Well, now, I knows a snug harbor t' the south o' this. Tis called Yesterday Cove. An' in the harbor is a cottage, an' in the cottage is a woman; an' the woman is ample an' kind. She've no lad of her own—that kind, ample woman. She've only a husband. That's me. An' I been thinkin'——"
I stirred myself.
"I 'low I'll meander for'ard," says I, "an' have a cup o' tea with the hands."
"Do, Tumm," says the skipper.