“`Icouldn’tclearout，“Jimbegan。`Theskipperdid——that’sallverywellforhim。Icouldn’t，andIwouldn’t。Theyallgotoutofitinonewayoranother，butitwouldn’tdoforme。“

　　`Ilistenedwithconcentratedattention，notdaringtostirinmychair；

　　Iwantedtoknow——andtothisdayIdon’tknow，Icanonlyguess。Hewouldbeconfidentanddepressedallinthesamebreath，asifsomeconvictionofinnateblamelessnesshadcheckedthetruthwrithingwithinhimateveryturn。Hebeganbysaying，inthetoneinwhichamanwouldadmithisinabilitytojumpatwenty-footwall，thathecouldnevergohomenow；andthisdeclarationrecalledtomymindwhatBrierlyhadsaid，that“theoldparsoninEssexseemedtofancyhissailorsonnotalittle。“

　　`Ican’ttellyouwhetherJimknewhewasespecially“fancied，“butthetoneofhisreferencesto“mydad“wascalculatedtogivemeanotionthatthegoodoldruraldeanwasaboutthefinestmanthateverhadbeenworriedbythecaresofalargefamilysincethebeginningoftheworld。

　　This，thoughneverstated，wasimpliedwithananxietythatthereshouldbenomistakeaboutit，whichwasreallyverytrueandcharming，butaddedapoignantsenseoflivesfarofftotheotherelementsofthestory。“Hehasseenitallinthehomepapersbythistime，“saidJim。“Itcanneverfacethepooroldchap。“IdidnotdaretoliftmyeyesatthistillI

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