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iBet789 Ten years of prestige "I cannot, madam.",Sir William, however, was a man not in the habit of taking long or deep views. His son was thinking of his good luck, of his meeting that evening with Captain Acton, of the opportunities for advancement which now lay before him, and these reflections would naturally colour his manner and make him[Pg 61] appear somewhat strange to those who knew him best.,CHAPTER IV THE MESSAGE CROAKER BROUGHT,"So you did all that, did you?" he laughed. "Oh, but you're a smart bird. But see here, if you go on the way you're doin', dirtyin' Ma's clean clothes an' abusin' her like I heard you doin', your light's goin' out sudden one of these days. Ma's scared to shoot the ol' gun herself, but she'll get Anse to do it. I guess I better shut you up on wash-mornin's after this.",Frank Stanhope turned slowly and held out his hands.，"And Cobin—he ain't any head at all, poor Cobin—did he talk sell?"，She belonged to a race whose extinction Francis Grose lamented. She was what was termed an antiquated gentlewoman whose dress was a survival of the fashion of two if not three earlier generations: consisting of a stiff-starched cap and hood, a little hoop and a rich silk damask gown with large flowers. She acted as housekeeper to her brother, and the keys of the cupboards jingled at her side. She was choice in her stores, which included cordial waters, cherry and raspberry brandy, Daffy's Elixir, pots of currant jelly and raspberry jam, and her stock also comprised salves, electuaries, and purges for the poor. When she walked she leaned, perhaps a little affectedly, on an ivory-handled crutch stick, and a fat pug dog rolled in her wake. This pug now snored alongside of her, and the[Pg 66] little terrier slept with its paws upon the pug's stomach.，"My love," said Captain Acton, "will you tell me how it happened that you should have allowed yourself to be lured on board the Minorca?"Captain Acton sent a swift and searching glance at the shipping in the distance. He then with quick steps fetched his glass. By his movements and countenance the Admiral immediately perceived that he did not know his ship had sailed. He pointed the telescope at the shipping. The Minorca was certainly not one of them. The river flowed bare from the sea under its bridges to its inland recesses, and offered no creek nor shelter to the eye for a vessel of any tonnage. If the barque was not in the Harbour, she had put to sea.[Pg 171] Both observers on the lawn were sailors, and did not need to be told this.

"But suppose that fellow Paul had not met you?" said Captain Acton.,"Yes, that's so.","Gosh!" whispered Billy. "I should say so; they're right onto us," and almost with the words the old gun roared again and again.,"Nuthin'. Promised I wouldn't tell him no ghost stories fer a week if he'd help me out.","You bet!" came the spontaneous answer.,"That won't hurt him; he's always tired anyway," rejoined Billy. "But we'd best go.",Lucy bit her under-lip, but certainly the general expression of her face was not one of displeasure.,One thing Billy saw which he could not understand. The greasy surface of the shallow pond was never still, but bubbled incessantly as porridge puffs and bubbles when it boils. It was as if the slimy creatures buried in the oozy bottom belched forth their poisonous breath as they stirred in sleep.,There was the sound of the quick intaking of breath, and an audible long-drawn "Oh!" from the girls.,"You think a detention of four days will signify nothing in our certainty of overhauling the Minorca, or getting to Rio in advance of her?" said Captain Acton.,She smiled and kissed him, and then said: "But oh, sir, his poor old father! You have regained me, your only child, but Sir William, an old, a good man, an upright, a beautiful character, must lose his son, an only child too.","Are we now?" Landon rubbed his hands and smacked his lips in anticipation. "You're goin' to stay and help clean up on 'em, Billy?".