Now that's a real truth!" Again my mother looked at Tom Lokins, and again that worthy man puffed an immense cloud of smoke, and nodded his head more decidedly than before.

Being anxious to put to flight all her doubts at once, he said solemnly, "Old ooman, that's a fact!" "Robert," said my mother, "tell me something about the whales." Just as she said this the door opened, and in came the good old gentleman with the nose like his cane-knob, and with as kind a heart as ever beat in a human breast.

My mother had already told me that he came to see her regularly once a week, ever since I went to sea, except in summer, when he was away in the country, and that he had never allowed her to want for anything.
I need scarcely say that there was a hearty meeting between us three, and that we had much to say to each other.

But in the midst of it all my mother turned to the old gentleman and said: "Robert was just going to tell me something about his adventures with the whales." "That's capital!" cried the old gentleman, rubbing his hands.

"Come, Bob, my boy, let's hear about 'em." Being thus invited, I consented to spin them a yarn.