I meant it for mother, but she died before I could manage it; and then I bought it for myself, thinking that Jane and I would live here until we should be summoned for the watch on deck above, and that arter our time Teddy, my nephew, Jane's only boy, would have it.

But, not long arter we settled down comfably, poor Teddy caught a fever, which carried him off; and Jane and I have gone on alone, ever since, with only our two selves." "You must miss your nephew Teddy," I said, sympathisingly, seeing a grave look on his face.
"Yes, laddie, I did miss him very much, but now, my cockbird," and here his face brightened up with another beaming smile, as he laid a meaning emphasis on his words, "but now I fancy, somehow or other, I'll not miss Teddy as much as I used to; d'ye know why ?" "No," I said, hesitatingly, and somewhat untruthfully, for I pretty well guessed what he meant.
"Then I'll tell you," he continued, with much feeling and heartiness of expression, "I've christened this here anchorage o' mine, `Old Calabar,' in mem'ry o' the West Coast, where I sarved under your father in the _Swallow_, as I told you just now; and, Master Leigh, as his son, I hope you'll always consider the little shanty as your home, free to come and go or stay, just as you choose, and ever open to you with a welcome the same as now ?" What could I say to this?
Why, nothing.
I declare that I couldn't have uttered a word then to have saved my life.
But he did not want any thanks.
Pretending not to notice my emotion, he went on speaking, so as to allow me time to recover myself.
"Rec'lect this, laddie," said he, "that my sister Jane and I have neither chick nor child belonging to either of us, and that your presence will be like sunshine in the house.

Come along in now, my boy.
I'll give Jane a hail to let her know we're here in harbour, so that she can pipe down to dinner.

Hi--hullo--on deck there!" and, raising his voice, in this concluding shout--just as if he were standing on the poop of a vessel in a heavy gale of wind and hailing a look-out man on the fore-crosstrees--he opened the door of the cottage, motioning me courteously to enter it first..