"
"Tell Captain McTavish that I'll gang," said Alec, who had hesitated no
longer than the time Mr Cupples took to say the word of kind flattery
to their landlady.
"He'll want testimonials, ye ken."
"Wadna _ye_ gie me ane, Mrs Leslie?"
"'Deed wad I, gin 'twar o' ony accoont. Ye see, Mr Alec, the day's no
yesterday; and this session's no the last."
"Haud yer tongue, and dinna rub a sair place," cried Mr Cupples.
"I beg yer pardon," returned Mrs Leslie, submissively.
Alec followed her down the stair.
He soon returned, his eyes flashing with delight. Adventure! And fifty
pounds to take to his mother!
"All right, Mr Cupples. The Captain has promised to take me if my
testimonials are satisfactory. I think they will give me good ones now.
If it weren't for you, I should have been lying in the gutter instead
of walking the quarter-deck."
"Weel, weel, bantam. There's twa sides to maist obligations.???-I'm
leebrarian."
The reader may remember that in his boyhood Alec was fond of the sea,
had rigged a flagstaff, and had built the _Bonnie Annie_. He was nearly
beside himself with delight, which continued unjarred until he heard
from his mother.
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