er just long enough in
waiting to damp a too covetous ardor, and then he complacently locked
Arabella in her bedroom, and bolted off Kitty in the basement; because
they both were sadly inquisitive, and this strange arrival had excited
them.

"Ah, mine ancient friend of the tower! Veteran Joseph, if my memory is
right," Mr. Mordacks exclaimed, in his lively way, as he went up and
offered the old tar both hands, to seat him in state upon the sofa; but
the legless sailor condemned "them swabs," and crutched himself into
a hard-bottomed chair. Then he pulled off his hat, and wiped his white
head with a shred of old flag, and began hunting for his pipe.

"First time I ever was in York city; and don't think much of it, if this
here is a sample."

"Joseph, you must not be supercilious," his host replied, with an
amiable smile; "you will see things better through a glass of grog; and
the state of the weather points to something dark. You have had a
long journey, and the scenery is new. Rum shall it be, my friend? Your
countenance says 'yes.' Rum, like a ruby of the finest water, have I;
and no water shall you have with it. Said I well? A man without legs
must keep himself well above water."

"First time I ever was in York city," the ancient watchman answered,
"and grog must be done as they does it here. A berth on them old walls
would suit me well; and no need to travel such a distance for my beer."

"And you would be the man of all the world for such a berth," said
Master Mordacks, gravely, as he poured the sparkling liquor into a glass
that was really a tumbler; "for such a post we want a man who is himself
a post; a man who will not quit his duty, just because he can not, which
is the only way of making sure. Joseph, your idea is a very good one,
and your beer could be brought to you at the middle of each watch. I
have interest; you shall be appointed."

"Sir, I am obligated to you," said the watchman; "but never could I live
a month without a wink of sea-stuff. The coming of the clouds, and the
dipping of the land, and the waiting of the distance for what may come
to be in it; let alone how they goes changing of their color, and making
of a noise that is always out of sight: it is the very same as my beer
is to me. Master, I never could get on without it."

"Well, I can understand a thing like that," Mordacks answered,
graciously; "my water-butt leaked for three weeks, pat, pat, all night
long upon a piece of slate,