I looked at Helga, and then said bluntly—for I had some dim hope of this boatman and his mate being able to help us, and the plain truth must therefore be given to them: 'The long and short of it is, Abraham, the Captain greatly admires Miss Nielsen—he has fallen in love with her, in short—and so you have it.'
Helga looked and listened without any air of embarrassment, as though the reference were of general instead of individual interest.
'But he hain't fallen in love with you, sir? Why do he want to keep ye both, then? Couldn't he have sent you aboard?'
'You astonish me!' I cried. 'Do you suppose I would leave this lady alone in the vessel?'
'Why, p'raps not,' he answered; 'but, still, 'tain't as if you was a lady, one of her own sex, as was hacting companion to her. Oi don't mean to say that one man's as good as another; but I don't see no call for you to keep all on in this here wessel.'
'What am I to understand you to mean?' cried I. 'That Miss Nielsen is to be left without a protector in the company of a fellow like Captain Bunting?'
'But if he's willing to be her protector, sir, ain't it all right?' he inquired.
'Has not your head been turned?' said Helga warmly, with a flushed face.
He looked stupidly from one to the other of us with a slow gaze and a mind labouring to master the difficulty he could not understand.
'Sorry if I've said anything to offend ye, miss,' said he; 'this here Capt'n's an honourable man, Oi allow, and he's evidently on the look-out for a wife. All I says is, what's the good of his keeping Mr. Tregarthen away from his home when he's willing to take his place?'