"It was, and I'm very much obliged to you for what you did," answered the girl. "But please don't say anything about it to anyone."
She stammered and blushed as though asking him to compound a felony.
"Nae, nae, I'll no breathe a word, gin ye dinna want me tae," he assured her. "Mr. Smeeth's man tells me a steam-pipe has burstit in his cabin, sae I'll jes' gang doon and hae a speer at it," saying which the engineer left the chart-room, and, descending to the deck, made his way to the second-mate's cabin.
After an amiable exchange of greetings between himself and Smith, he found the leak in the steam-pipe and plugged it with cotton waste.
"'Tis a fine bit o' wark that Miss Fletcher has done," he remarked, preparing to leave.
"You mean gettin' the Satellite off?" answered Smith. "Yes, Byles was telling me about it; said it was one of the finest feats of seamanship he'd ever seen."
"Aye, 'twas that. Mon, she'd mak' a splendid wife for a body who could manage her."
"D'you think so?" said Smith thoughtfully.
"Never a doot, lad. But the mon who'd be strang enoo' to marry the like o' her, would be strang enoo' not tae marry at a', I'm thinkin'."
There was a pause and McPhulach made to leave the cabin. As he was about to open the door, Smith called him back.