"
"Oh, dear," said Miss Ricks sympathetically. "I'm so sorry dad's such
a busybody."
"You're not half so sorry as I am. I'm flat broke, and in order to
eat I have to go to work, and in order to go to work I have to get a
job, and in order to get the job I have to take what your father
offers me--in fact, insists upon my taking. You see, Miss Florry, I'm
almost a stranger in Pacific shipping. I don't know any owners except
your father and I've never had any coastwise experience. It might be
years before I could get another job as master of a sailing ship, and
most steamship captains prefer to let some other captains break in
their mates for them. So you see I'm helpless."
A silence. Then: "I'm going to sea in the Gualala to-morrow morning,
Florry."
It was the first time he had dropped the "Miss," but he dropped it
purposely now. Miss Ricks noticed the omission, which probably imbued
her with the courage to voice again her excess of sympathy. Said she:
"Oh, I'm so sorry, Matt!"
He thrilled at that. "Well," he answered humorously, "for the first
time I'm glad I'm not a captain any more!"
Followed another brief silence, while Florry groped for the hidden
meaning behind that subtle retort; then he continued: "Your father
thinks I was a little presumptuous in calling at the house.
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