"And I do believe you knew all the
time and were simply teasing us."
"That is not exactly true," smiled her father. "Of course I looked him
up a bit before offering him the command of the _Tampico_. He comes
from near New Bedford. You know my mother's family lived there."
The girl nodded. "Yes? Go on."
Mr. Howland lighted a match and held it burning for a while before
applying it to his cigar.
"You know," he said, "there are no better people in the world than some
of those New England seafaring families. The Merrithews, I believe,
were very substantial. . . . So you see where your supposed wharf-rat
acquired the manner which you marked in him, and his good English,
and--and well, whatever else you marked."
"What is he going to do now?" asked Mrs. Van Vleck. "Oh, of course,
the _Tampico_. Is he qualified to be a captain?"
"Why, naturally; I haven't the slightest doubt of it. But Harrison
will stay with the ship for two or three more trips to break him in
thoroughly. Both companies by whom he was employed while in tugboat
work speak of him in the highest terms. It's all rather a departure.
But I feel I owe it to Merrithew; and besides, I have an idea he is the
sort of man we want. This West Indian trade is not all beer and
skittles."
"It is very interesting," said Virginia, stifling a yawn.
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