He'll always find me at the Bull and Griffin, in the High Street, or at the end o' the pier." While the sailor was speaking, I observed a figure standing in a dark corner of the room near the door, and, on looking more closely, I found that it was the old gentleman with the nose like his cane knob.

Seeing that he was observed, he came forward and said: "I trust that you will forgive my coming here without invitation; but I happened to overhear part of the conversation between your son and this seaman, and I am willing to help you over your little difficulty, if you will allow me." The old gentleman said this in a very quick, abrupt way, and looked as if he were afraid his offer might be refused.

He was much heated, with climbing our long stair no doubt, and as he stood in the middle of the room, puffing and wiping his bald head with a handkerchief, my mother rose hastily and offered him a chair.
"You are very kind, sir," she said; "do sit down, sir.

I'm sure I don't know why you should take so much trouble.

But, dear me, you are very warm; will you take a cup of tea to cool you ?" "Thank you, thank you.