In the meantime you must give me your word to remain where you are; for though the punishment is remitted, you are still under arrest.

I have seen your captain, however, and you will find matters made very light for you.
The sentry will bring you food and drink." He stopped, for Tristram had fallen on one knee and was passionately kissing his hand.
"How ill you must think of me!" he murmured; "and how can I thank you ?" "By keeping one tender thought or two for a father who held aloof from you, while it was for your good, and came to you when, for the first time, you wanted him.

Mine has been a hard life, Tristram, and not altogether a good one.

By asking you to share it, I had done you Heaven knows what injury." This was true enough, and it struck the speaker as so pathetic that he managed even to squeeze up a tear.
"But come," he went on, with a sudden change to vivacity, "tell me how you happened into this scrape ?" And so, with the lantern between them casting long spokes of light on the ship's timbers, the rafters and the two drunken sleepers in the corner, father and son sat and talked for the better part of an hour; at the end of which time Captain Salt, who dexterously managed to do nine-tenths of the listening, was pretty well posted in the affairs of the Blue Pavilions and their inmates, and knew almost as much of Tristram's past history as if he had spent a day with the thirty-seven green volumes.

It was past two in the morning when he arose to return to his own ship.
At parting he kissed Tristram on both cheeks.