"And it's beautiful you're looking,
Mr. Dodd, my dear," she was kind enough to say. "And a
muracle they naygur waheenies let ye lave the oilands.
I have my suspicions of Shpeedy," she added roguishly.
"Did ye see him after the naygresses now?"
I gave Speedy an unblemished character.
"The one of ye will never bethray the other," said the
playful dame, and ushered me into a bare room, where
Mamie sat working a type-writer.
I was touched by the cordiality of her greeting. With
the prettiest gesture in the world she gave me both her
hands, wheeled forth a chair, and produced from a
cupboard a tin of my favourite tobacco, and a book of
my exclusive cigarette-papers.
"There!" she cried; "you see, Mr. Loudon, we were all
prepared for you: the things were bought the very day
you sailed."
I imagined she had always intended me a pleasant
welcome; but the certain fervour of sincerity, which I
could not help remarking, flowed from an unexpected
source. Captain Nares, with a kindness for which I can
never be sufficiently grateful, had stolen a moment
from his occupations, driven to call on Mamie, and
drawn her a generous picture of my prowess at the
wreck.
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