The captain never from the first took to me.
“I am bothered enough with women, and don’t want a brat in the cabin into the bargain,” he growled out one day when angry with his wife.
“Oh, but the little boy loves me so much,” said Mrs Podgers, drawing me towards her. “Don’t you, Charley?”
“No, I can’t say I do,” I answered; for Dick had charged me always to speak the truth. “But I love Miss Kitty, that I do, for she is sweet and pretty, and that’s what you know you are not;” and I broke away from her and ran up to the young lady.
“Ungrateful little wretch!” exclaimed Mrs Podgers. “Then out of the cabin you shall go, and live with your equals forward.”
“Yes, let him go at once,” said the captain, “or you will be changing your mind.”
“Not likely, after what he has said to me,” exclaimed Mrs Podgers. “I would pull his ears, as he deserves, that I would.”
Poor Kitty looked very much frightened, and held me close to her. “Oh, don’t, Mrs Podgers, pray don’t; the little boy did not intend to be naughty, and I will take care of him, and teach him better manners if you will let me.”
“No, Miss, I will do no such thing,” answered Mrs Podgers, her anger in no way diminished.
“Take him on deck at once, and tell the man who came with him to look after him. If he goes overboard that’s his own fault, not mine. I would have been a mother to him, but I cannot stand ingratitude, and he has no claim on my sympathy and affections, as you have, Kitty my dear.”