we lived together still more pleasantly than ever,
for they had it off their minds, and I felt that I had done what was
right. I found that my uncle had once been what Miss Rundle called a
common sailor--that is to say, he had been mate of a merchantman, and
had been pressed on board a man-of-war, where he had obtained a warrant
as boatswain. While acting as such, he had lost his leg. After he had
recovered he got command of a large merchantman, for he was a good
navigator as well as a first-rate seaman. He was not very refined,
according to some people's notions, I dare say, nor were some of his
acquaintance. He valued them, as he did all things, for their sterling
qualities, and cared very little for their outside. A good many of his
old friends and shipmates used to look in on him, and I was much struck
by the kind and hospitable way in which my aunt always received them.
"They are my husband's friends, and I inquire no further," she used to
say. "I know that he will never ask anybody I shall not be glad to
receive."

Scarcely an evening passed without our having one or more guests, and
this made it very pleasant. Just as we were sitting down to tea one
evening, a ring was heard, and on my uncle's opening the door (I found
that he always did that sort of work), I heard him exclaim, "Come in,
Jerry! come in, old boy! There is only my nephew here, and he won't be
sorry to hear you talk, I'm sure." There was a shuffling and cleaning
of shoes, and then my uncle ushered in as odd a looking old man as I
ever saw. He was of diminutive figure, very wizened and wiry, with long
grizzly hair and small bright eyes, with a wonderfully roguish
expression in them.

"This is Jerry Vincent, an old shipmate of mine, nephew," observed my
uncle, as he placed a chair for the old man. "He can tell you more
curious things than most people when he has a mind. Can you not,
Jerry?"

Our guest nodded, and his eyes twinkled curiously.

"Sarvant, missus; sarvant, all," said he, pulling a lock of his hair and
putting his tarpaulin hat under the seat which had been offered him.
"Why, old ship, I've seen some rum things in the course of my life, and
I don't forget them, like some does," he remarked, smoothing down his
hair with his long, rough, bony hand.

I told him that I should much like to hear some of his adventures, but
he did not become loquacious till my aunt had served him out three or
four cups of tea, into which she po