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Chapter 5
Hegavemegood-morningcivilly;andIgavethesametohim,smilingdownuponhim,fromtheheightsofmysufficiency.Soonweweresettobreakfast,asitmighthavebeenthedaybefore.
“Well,sir,”saidI,withajeeringtone,“haveyounothingmoretosaytome?”Andthen,ashemadenoarticulatereply,“Itwillbetime,Ithink,tounderstandeachother,”Icontinued.“YoutookmeforacountryJohnnieRaw,withnomoremother-witorcouragethanaporridge-stick.Itookyouforagoodman,ornoworsethanothersattheleast.Itseemswewerebothwrong.Whatcauseyouhavetofearme,tocheatme,andtoattemptmylife—”
Hemurmuredsomethingaboutajest,andthathelikedabitoffun;andthen,seeingmesmile,changedhistone,andassuredmehewouldmakeallclearassoonaswehadbreakfasted.Isawbyhisfacethathehadnoliereadyforme,thoughhewashardatworkpreparingone;andIthinkIwasabouttotellhimso,whenwewereinterruptedbyaknockingatthedoor.
Biddingmyunclesitwherehewas,Iwenttoopenit,andfoundonthedoorstepahalf-grownboyinsea-clothes.Hehadnosoonerseenmethanhebegantodancesomestepsofthesea-hornpipe(whichIhadneverbeforeheardoffarlessseen),snappinghisfingersintheairandfootingitrightcleverly.Forallthat,hewasbluewiththecold;andtherewassomethinginhisface,alookbetweentearsandlaughter,thatwashighlypatheticandconsistedillwiththisgaietyofmanner.
“Whatcheer,mate?”sayshe,withacrackedvoice.
