e hall, following more
sedately the harum-scarum youngsters; and while the former hung back,
waiting to be introduced as soon as the first greetings were over, the
good lady of the house advanced eagerly to welcome a tall and bearded
gentleman, with a right good pair of broad shoulders of his own, who
came forward to meet her, with Bob clinging to one of his arms while the
other was round his neck.

"Why, me dear Dugald, it's never you!" exclaimed Mrs Gilmour as her
brother let go Bob and caught both her outstretched hands in his, giving
them a fraternal grip. "Sure, is it yoursilf, or somebody ilse?"

"Mesilf, Polly, sure enough," replied he in a deep baritone voice, that
resembled Bob's, but had a very slight suspicion of the Irish brogue in
it like her own. "Right glad am I to say ye again, too, mavourneen!
Ye're a sight good for sore eyes, sure!"

He laughed as he said this, a racy, genial laugh in keeping with his
looks; and the Captain instantly took a liking to him for his own sake,
apart from his likeness to his sister, Mrs Gilmour, who now introduced
him, having already prepossessed the old sailor in his favour.

"Me brother--Captain Dresser," she said smiling. "I'm sure you ought to
know each other by this time, if you don't already!"

"Glad to meet you, sir, glad to meet you," cried the Captain in his
bluff hearty way. "I've often heard of you, especially since Master Bob
here has been down at Southsea."

"Ah! I have to thank you for the kind way in which you've made their
stay here pleasant for him and my little girl," rejoined the other
warmly as the two shook hands. "But, there was little need, Captain
Dresser, for my sister to introduce you. She's told me so much about
you, that I seem to have known you already for years!"

"Oh, yes," said the Captain; "your sister is one of my oldest friends."

"What's that you're saying about my being an old friend?" exclaimed Mrs
Gilmour, pretending to be indignant. "You speak as if I were an aged
person; but, I'd have you to know, that, although I'm not quite a
chicken, sure, I'm not as old as old Methuselah yet!"

"No, no, I didn't mean that," chuckled the Captain; and turning to her
brother he remarked on the likeness between him and Mrs Gilmour. "It
is absolutely striking, by Jove!"

"We're almost twins," replied he innocently; "only, I'm ten years
older!"

The Captain burst into a regular roar of laughter at this; his sides
shaking and his fa