“Give my love to ’em in Pimlico Walk,” said Robert shyly, as he lifted her into the boat.
“I shall keep some of it for meself,” said the little woman archly. She spoke to the officer at the stern of the boat. “Which side of the boat shall I sit, mister?” The officer replied that it could not possibly matter. “Oh, well,” she said resignedly, “if it overbalances don’t blame me. Goo’ bye, Bobbie.”
“Goo’ bye,” cried Bobbie.
“Be a good boy,” called out the little woman in the rocking gig.
“A good man, I mean,” she shouted apologetically.
“That’s better.”
“Don’t forget,” cried the little woman, putting one hand to the side of her mouth—“oh, dear! how this boat does bob about—don’t forget that we mean to be proud of you.”
“I shan’t forget,” he promised.
And, indeed, Robert Lancaster kept this in his memory.