in."
"Why, sir, your honored father, who lorded it over every man he met and
contradicted everything he didn't like, said, 'Yes, my dear,' to
whatever Mrs. Hatton desired or declared. I hed to do the same thing in
my way, and Mrs. Hatton on board this yacht was really her captain. I'm
not saying but what she was a satisfactory substitute, for she hed the
sense to always ask my advice."
"Then she acted under orders, Captain."
"To be sure. But I am Captain Lance Cook, of Whitby, a master navigator,
a fourth in direct line from Captain James Cook, who sailed three times
round the world, when that was a most uncommon thing to do. And every
time he went, he made England a present of a few islands. Captain James
Cook made his name famous among Englishmen of the sea, and I hevn't come
across the woman yet I considered worthy to share it."
"You may meet her soon now, Captain. There is a 'new woman' very much
the fashion these days. Perhaps you have not seen her yet."
"I have seen her, sir. I have seen all I want to see of her. She appears
to hev got the idea into her head that she ought to hev been a man, and
some of them have got so far in that direction that you are forced to
say that in their dress and looks there isn't much difference. However,
I hev heard very knowing men declare they always found the old woman in
all her glory under the new one, and I wouldn't wonder if that was the
case. What do you think, Mr. Hatton?"
"It may be, Captain, that it is the 'new man' that is wanted, and not
the 'new woman.' I think most men are satisfied with the old woman. I am
sure I am," and his eyes filled with light, and he silently blessed the
fair woman who came into his memory ere he added, "but then, I have not
a great ancestor's name to consider. The Hattons never gave anything in
the way of land to England."
"They hev done a deal for Yorkshire, sir."
"That was their duty, and their pleasure and profit. Yorkshire men are
kinsmen everywhere. If I met one in Singapore, or Timbuctoo, I would say
'_Yorkshire_?' and hold out my hand to him."
"Well, sir, I've seen Yorkshire men I wouldn't offer my hand to; I hev
that, and sorry I am to say it! I never was in Singapore harbor, and I
must acknowledge I never saw or heard tell of Timbuctoo harbor."
John laughed pleasantly. "Timbuctoo is in Central Africa. It was just an
illustration."
"Illustration! You might have illustrated with a true harbor, sir--for
instance, N
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