She was careful not to breathe a word of this
interview, till she had led me on to tell my adventures
for myself.
"Ah! Captain Nares was better," she cried, when I had
done. "From your account, I have only learned one new
thing, that you are modest as well as brave."
I cannot tell with what sort of disclamation I sought
to reply.
"It is of no use," said Mamie. "I know a hero. And
when I heard of you working all day like a common
labourer, with your hands bleeding and your nails
broken--and how you told the captain to "crack on" (I
think he said) in the storm, when he was terrified
himself--and the danger of that horrid mutiny"--(Nares
had been obligingly dipping his brush in earthquake and
eclipse)--"and how it was all done, in part at least,
for Jim and me--I felt we could never say how we
admired and thanked you."
"Mamie," I cried, "don't talk of thanks; it is not a
word to be used between friends. Jim and I have been
prosperous together; now we shall be poor together.
We've done our best, and that's all that need be said.
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