“Exactly, mother. Will you tell me?”
“Well! upon my word! Here he’s been, off and on, for the matter of eight years and more; and now you ask me that!”
“Yes, mother, I do ask you; for I am sure you know more of him than I do.”
“Why should you think so?”
“Don’t do that!” the youth pleaded, beseechingly. “I pray you do not deny a self-evident fact.”
“Boy!”
“Stop! Let me finish. Mother, I never spoke a word with Captain Tryon that I was not forced to speak—so forced by circumstances beyond my control. I never held with him a social confab; nor have I ever conversed with any of my old crew about him. I did, once, ask old Rodney the same question I have now asked you.”
“Ha! You did! And what was his answer?”
“His answer left me more puzzled than I was before; for he plainly showed to me that he was not at liberty to talk about his commander. In short, he wouldn’t say a word, only of refusal.”
“And you’ll get the same answer from me! So, now, go and eat your breakfast.”