As the boat passed the Amity, Peter Puddle looked over the side and hailed, “Haven’t you got the mate in?”
The captain shook his head.
“Then I’ve lost my guinea,” cried Peter; “but I mind more about the mate, that I do.”
“Never mind your guinea, lad. I’ll see after you. Stay on board till I come back,” answered the captain.
They soon reached the shore. Captain Mudge insisted on escorting Jessie home, for he could not bring himself to leave her till he had seen her safe with her grandmother, who would, he fancied, comfort her better than he could. On reaching home, Jessie, throwing herself into her granny’s arms, gave way to her tears.
“It will do her good, and Ralph won’t find fault with her when he hears of it,” observed the old captain. “Fine young man, that mate of mine, Mrs Treviss. He’s a great loss to me, no doubt about that; but it may turn out for his good after all. Shouldn’t be surprised, as I said to Jessie just now, if he was to come back an officer in his Majesty’s Service. He’d not be the first pressed man who has risen to be an admiral. We can all pray for him too, you know, Mrs Treviss; and that’s a great comfort, isn’t it?”
Jessie in a short time became calm again, and even looked up and smiled at her kind old friend. Captain Mudge had a good deal of business to attend to, so after a short chat, promising to return soon to see how they were getting on, he took his departure.