Dorkin also,
during his watches, meditated much; he likewise grumbled a good deal,
and smoked continuously. He was not a bad fellow at bottom, however,
and sometimes he and Potter got on very amicably. At such seasons John
tried to draw his mate into religious talk, but without success. Thus,
from day to day and year to year, these two men stuck to their post,
until eleven years had passed away.

One day, about the end of that period, John Potter, who, having attained
to the age of fifty-two, was getting somewhat grey, though still in full
strength and vigour, sat at his chimney corner beside his buxom and
still blooming wife. His fireside was a better one than in days of
yore,--thanks to Tommy, who had become a flourishing engineer: Mrs
Potter's costume was likewise much better in condition and quality than
it used to be; thanks, again, to Tommy, who was a grateful and loving
son.

"Well, Martha, I've had a pleasant month ashore, lass: I wish that I
hadn't to go off on relief to-morrow."

"Why not leave it altogether, then, John? You've no occasion to
continue a light-keeper now that you've laid by so much, and Tommy is so
well off and able to help us, an' willin' too--God bless him!"

"Amen to that, Martha. I have just bin thinkin' over the matter, and
I've made up my mind that this is to be my last trip off to the Rock. I
spoke to the superintendent last week, and it's all settled. Who d'ye
think is to take my place?"

"I never could guess nothink, John: who?"

"Teddy Maroon: no less."

"What? an' 'im a' older man than yourself?"

"Ah, but it ain't the same Teddy. It's his eldest son, named after
himself; an' so like what his father was when I last saw him, that I
don't think I'd be able to tell which was which."

"Well, John, I'm glad to 'ear it; an' be sure that ye git 'ome, next
relief before the thirty-first of October, for that's Tommy's wedding
day, an' you know we fixed it a purpose to suit your time of being at
'ome. A sweet pair they'll make. Nora was born to be a lady: nobody
would think but she is one, with 'er pretty winsome ways; and Tommy, who
was twenty-five 'is very last birthday, is one of the 'andsomest men in
Plymouth. I've a settled conviction, John, that he'll live to be a
great man."

"You once had a settled conviction that he would come to a bad end,"
said Potter, with an arch smile.

"Go along with you, John!" retorted Mrs Potter.

"I'm just going," said John, ris