If the captain heard Stephen's fervent ejaculation, he paid no attention to it.

Dropping his niece's hand, he extended his own toward his nephew.
"And this is Stephen ?" he said.

"Well, Steve, you and me have never met afore, I b'lieve.

But that's our misfortune, not our fault, hey?
How are you?
Pretty smart ?" The boy's face was flaming.

He mumbled something to the effect that he was all right enough, and turned away without accepting the proffered hand.