"But will you promise me?"
"Ay."
"Then give me the money."
Stephen handed the bag to Michael.
"It's fourteen years of your life, is it not?"
"So to say."
"And now it's mine, isn't it, to do as I like with it?"
"No, sir, but to do as you ought with it."
"Then I ought to give it back to you. Come, take it. But wait! Remember your promise, father. Don't forget—I've bought every hour of your life that's left."
Father and son parted at the ship's side in silence, with throats too full for speech. Many small boats, pulled by men and boys, were lying about the ladder, and there was a good deal of shouting and swearing and noisy laughter there. Some of the boatmen recognized Michael Sunlocks and bellowed their farewells to him. "Dy banne Jee oo?"