“Thank you, sir,” added Ole, bowing low.
“But in order to know what to do for you, I must know something about your circumstances.”
“I haven’t any circumstances, sir. I lost ’em all,” replied Ole, gravely and sadly, as though he had met with a very serious loss.
Dr. Winstock could not help laughing, but it was impossible to decide whether the boy was ignorant of the meaning of the word, or was trying to perpetrate a joke.
“How did you happen to lose your circumstances, Ole?” asked Mr. Lowington.
“When my mother died, Captain Olaf took ’em.”
“Indeed; and who is Captain Olaf?”
Ole looked at the principal, and then returned his gaze to the cabin floor, evidently not deeming it prudent to answer the question.
“Is he your brother?”
“No, sir.”