With much pleasure, unless, indeed, your son objects to a '_stingy old chap_' sitting beside him." I blushed when he repeated my words, and attempted to make some apology; but the old gentleman stopped me by commencing to explain his intentions in short, rapid sentences.
To make a long story short, he offered to look after my mother while I was away, and, to prove his sincerity, laid down five shillings, and said he would call with that sum every week as long as I was absent.
My mother, after some trouble, agreed to let me go, and, before that evening closed, everything was arranged, and the gentleman, leaving his address, went away.
The sailor had been so much filled with surprise at the suddenness of all this, that he could scarcely speak.

Immediately after the departure of the old gentleman, he said, "Well, good-bye, mistress, good-bye, Bob," and throwing on his hat in a careless way, left the room.
"Stop!" I shouted after him, when he had got about half-way down stair.
"Hallo! wot's wrong now ?" "Nothing; I only forgot to ask your name." "Tom Lokins," he bellowed, in the hoarse voice of a regular boatswain, "w'ich wos my father's name before me." So saying, he departed, whistling "Rule, Britannia," with all his might.
Thus the matter was settled.

Six days afterwards, I rigged myself out in a blue jacket, white ducks, and a straw hat, and went to sea..