at passed
almost under his arm-pits and made his blouse bulge out like a balloon.
Cocking his black cap down over one ear, he began to strut up and down
in front of the women, imitating the tough and independent manner of
_tio_ Batiste, and trying to put some of that worthy's picturesque
obscenity into the insults he heaped upon his grandmother for her
efforts in his behalf. "I'm through playing at the tavern! You can keep
your bread and cheese! I'm a man now, I am; and I'm going 'cat' in the
_Mayflower_!"

His father and mother were in convulsions at the saucy antics of this
chip of the old block. As for the Rector, he could have eaten the boy
alive with kisses. But _sina_ Tona could only bawl and bawl like a
cry-baby, till her son got really angry. "Mama, will you stop that
noise! What do you think we are doing to the boy, cutting his throat?
The world isn't coming to an end! Pascualet is just going to sea, the
way his father, his grandfather and his great-grandfather did. What do
you want to make of him? A tramp? No, I want him to be a man of pluck,
and able to do a day's work, and not be afraid of salt water, where his
living is likely to be. If I can leave him a little bit, when I pass on,
so much the better; but he ought to be ready to look out for himself.
He'll be in no danger. But if he gets to know what a boat is, he'll go
to it with his eyes open. Any one can have an accident, afloat or
ashore. Just because my father ended the way he did is no signs we're
all to end that way. Too much bawling around here! Give us a rest, will
you!"

But _sina_ Tona knew they were all possessed of the devil! The sea had
her eye on the whole family, and would get them all, finally! She hadn't
slept a wink for nights--and the most frightful dreams! Worry and worry
about your son! And then you find they're taking the baby, too. No, she
couldn't stand it any more. They were bound to kill her with worry and
sorrow! If they weren't her children, she wouldn't look them in the
face, they were so brutal!

But the Rector, letting the old lady grumble on, sat down to his bowl of
steaming soup. "What do you say to dinner, Pascualet! Don't mind her!
Your daddy is going to make the best sailor in the Cabanal out of you!
Tell us, mama, what you got in that bundle?"

_Sina_ Tona boo-hooed louder than ever at the joking question. A
present! A little present, that was all! She thought it would ease her
mind. So she had taken what money she