He walked past the sad consulting partners, and looked more haughty than ever, and yet more good-tempered.
"I'm very much afraid that he has 'ad good news in that letter," said Gruddle, "for if 'e has it may make 'im more independent."
"I don't see 'ow 'e can be more independent than 'e 'as been," remarked Shody. "When a captain gets independent enough to call the firm that owns 'im an infernal lot of 'ogs, that seems to me the very 'eight of independence."
But, as a matter of fact, Jordan was more independent. He went up to Thripp, who was on the bridge, with a curious expression of mixed joy and sadness.
"You remember that poor old girl that I told you of, Thripp?"
"The one that hankered to marry you?" asked Thripp.
"The same," said the skipper. "She has pegged out, the poor old girl, at least she says she has."
Thripp stared.
"What do you mean by that, sir? How could she say so?" he asked.
The skipper showed him the letter that he had just received.
