"And now stop!" said the captain, coming to a standstill, and looking
from one brother to the other, with quite a new rigging of wrinkles about
each eye; "you are of opinion," to the elder, "that you are ra'ather
slow?"
"I assure you I am very slow," said the honest Hugh.
"Wa'al," replied the captain, "I assure you that to the best of my belief
I am ra'ather smart. Now a slow man ain't good at quick business, is
he?"
That was clear to both.
"You," said the captain, turning to the younger brother, "are a little in
love; ain't you?"
"Not a little, Captain Jorgan."
"Much or little, you're sort preoccupied; ain't you?"
It was impossible to be denied.
"And a sort preoccupied man ain't good at quick business, is he?" said
the captain.
Equally clear on all sides.
"Now," said the captain, "I ain't in love myself, and I've made many a
smart run across the ocean, and I should like to carry on and go ahead
with this affair of yours, and make a run slick through it. Shall I try?
Will you hand it over to me?"
They were both delighted to do so, and thanked him heartily.
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