"I beg your pardon, sir!" he said, timidly.
"But--do you think you ought to do that ?" The Skipper looked out of the cupboard for an instant, and his eyes were very bright.

"Yes, Colorado," he said.

"I think I ought to do this! Oh, very much indeed, my friend, I ought to do this! And here,"-- he stepped back, holding something in his hand,--"here, it is done! No more disturbance, Colorado; I thank you for your countenance.
"Do we now make a promenade in the garden, to see your work?
"Yet," he added, pausing and again looking around him, "but yet once more I observe.

This room,"-- it was strange, he did not seem to like the parlour any better than he had liked the kitchen--"this room, to live in! a young person, figure it, Colorado! gentle, with desires, with dreams of beauty, and this only to behold! For companion an ancient onion,--I say things that are improper, my son! I demand pardon! But for a young person, a maiden to live here, would be sad indeed, do you think it ?" John pondered, in wonder and some trouble of mind.

There was something that he had to say, something very hard; but it would not be polite just now, and he must answer a question when he was asked.