"What, what?" inquired the old sailor, looking from one to the other.
"Tell me what she said!"

Nellie put her hand over Mrs Gilmour's mouth.

"Hush auntie," she cried appealingly. "You mustn't say anything; I
didn't mean it!"

"I dare say you called me a sour old curmudgeon?" hinted the Captain,
pretending to be very much grieved. "Didn't you?"

"No, I didn't," said Nellie, jumping up and throwing her arms round his
neck to kiss him. "I think you are the dearest and kindest old Captain
that ever was!"

"Humph!" he ejaculated in a smothered voice, addressing her aunt.
"There's no doubt, ma'am, where she gets the `blarney' from. It runs in
the family!"

"Sure an' small blame to her either," retorted the other defiantly.
"It's fortunate for us women that we have something wherewith to get the
better of you hard men sometimes."

"Sometimes, eh? always, I think," growled the Captain, looking very
knowing and laughing the while. "But, I won't argue the point with you,
ma'am--sure to get the worst of it if I do. Tell you what I'll do, that
is if it is agreeable to you. What say you to all of us crossing over
to-morrow to the Island, eh?"

"Oh, auntie, how nice!" cried Nellie, hugging her and the Captain
alternately.

Bob contented himself with uttering only the single word "jolly!"

But, the ejaculation spoke volumes, Bob's highest appreciation being
ever expressed by that expressive but slangy term "jolly!"

"Will it do, d'ye think?" said the Captain to Mrs Gilmour; there was no
need of his asking either of the children, their faces giving an
unhesitating assent at once, as did Dick's. "Eh, ma'am?"

"Certainly," she replied, "if it suits you."

"Then, that's settled," he decided. "There's a new steamer, called the
_Bembridge Belle_, I've seen advertised to run on an excursion to
Seaview pier; and I think she will do very well for us; especially as
she will go partly round the Island afterwards."

"I can't say I like excursion steamers," observed Mrs Gilmour
hesitatingly; "but if you think, as an experienced sailor, that she will
be safe, of course I can have no objection. You know--I'm speaking more
for the children's sake than my own, being responsible to their parents
for them."

"Safe, ma'am, eh? Safe as houses!" replied the Captain, with much
energy, stamping his foot on the floor as he spoke to give point to his
assertion, his malacca cane not being within reach at the moment.
"Otherwise,