Biddy departed with a curious look in her eyes, and somewhat consoled for my father’s indifference to her charms.
“You sail to-morrow?” inquired his honour when she had gone.
“I do,” said my father. “I’m away to Sheep Haven to join her at cock-crow.”
His honour turned and caught sight of me standing by the fire. He beckoned me to him, as he had done once before, turned my face to the light, and stared at me.
Then he looked up at father.
“He’s no look of you, Mike.”
“So you may say,” replied my father, with a knowing glance at his honour. “Tim’s liker me, they say.”
His honour looked up with a significant nod.
“Well, Mike, I’ve said I’ll see after one of the lads, for their dead mother’s sake. Which will it be?”
“I’m thinking of taking Tim with me,” said my father.