Thus he had come to know the names of most of the boys of the place, as well as of many of the elders; for it was his custom, of a Saturday evening, after the little one was in bed, to go and smoke his pipe in the taproom of the "Anchor," where he would sometimes relate tales of his adventures to the assembled fishermen.

But, although chatty and cheery with his patrons, Sergeant Wilks was a reticent, rather than a talkative, man.

At the "Anchor" he was, except when called upon for a story, a listener rather than a talker.
As to his history, or the county to which he belonged, he never alluded to it, although communicative enough as to his military adventures; and any questions which were asked him, he quietly put on one side.

He had intimated, indeed, that the father and mother of his grandchild were both dead; but it was not known whether she was the child of his son or daughter; for under his cheerful talk there was something of military strictness and sternness, and he was not a man of whom idle questions would be asked.
"Now, boys and girls," he said, "step up; the show is ready.

Those who have got a penny cannot spend it better.