“That’s all you know,” retorted Pat. “Of course we was told the moment we came alongside the wharf this mornin’, that somebody had bin blowin’ half a gale o’ lies about it, but Stephen Lockley ain’t drownded, not he, an’ don’t mean to be for some time. He was aboard of the Sunbeam at the time his wessel went down an’ all the rest of ’em, except poor Jay an’ Hawkson, an’ we’ve brought ’em all ashore. You see we got so damaged in a gale that came on to blow the wery next day that we’ve bin forced to run here for repairs. Skipper Lockley’s away up at this here minit to see his wife—leastwise, he’s waitin’ outside till one o’ the parsons goes and breaks the noos to her. The skipper didn’t see no occasion for that, an’ said he could break the noos to her hisself, but the parson said he didn’t know what the consikences might be, so Stephen he gave in, an’—. Now, old girl, if you keep openin’ of your mouth an’ eyes at that rate you’ll git lockjaw, an’ never be able to go to sleep no more.”
There was, indeed, some ground for the boy’s remark, for his “noos” had evidently overwhelmed Mrs Mooney—chiefly with joy, on account of her friend Mrs Lockley, to whom, even when “in liquor”, she was tenderly attached. She continued to gaze speechless at Pat, who took advantage of the opportunity to do a little private business on his own account.
Taking a little bit of blue ribbon with a pin attached to it from his pocket, he coolly fixed it on Mrs Mooney’s breast.
“There,” said he gravely, “I promised Bob that I’d make as many conwerts as I could, so I’ve conwerted you!”
Utterly regardless of her conversion, Mrs Mooney suddenly sprang from her seat and made for the door.
“Hallo, old gal! where away now!” cried the boy, seizing her skirt and following her out, being unable to stop her.
“I’m a-goin’ to tell Eve, an’ won’t she be glad, for she was awful fond o’ Lockley!”
“All right, I’m with ’ee. Cut along.”
“Mother!” exclaimed Eve, when the poor woman stood before her with eager excitement flushing her face to a ruddy purple. “Have you really put on the blue ribbon?”
The poor child’s thin pretty little race flushed with hope for a moment.