"Papa! what is it?" exclaimed Elsie, greatly surprised at the little
scene.
"Her husband, no doubt: he's too old to be a son."
"Oh, how glad, how glad I am!" and Elsie started to her feet, her eyes
full of tears, and her sweet face sparkling all over with sympathetic joy.
"Papa, I shall buy him! they must never be parted again till death comes
between."
A little crowd had already gathered about the excited couple, every one on
deck hurrying to the spot, eager to learn the cause of the tumult of joy
and grief into which the two seemed to have been so suddenly thrown.
Mr. Dinsmore rose, and giving his arm to Elsie, led her towards the
throng, saying in answer to her last remark, "Better act through me, then,
daughter, or you will probably be asked two or three prices."
"O papa, yes; please attend to it for me--only--only I must have him, for
dear old mammy's sake, at whatever cost."
The crowd opened to the lady and gentleman as they drew near.
"My poor old mammy, what is it? whom have you found?" asked Elsie.
But Chloe was speechless with a joy so deep that it wore the aspect of an
almost heart-breaking sorrow. She could only cling with choking sobs to
her husband's arm. "What's all this fuss, Uncle Joe?" queried the captain.
Pages:
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57