"Not quite so bad as that, sir," he remonstrated. "It's--it's--well,
you may call it the _atmosphere_. On Speech-day the ship fairly
reeks of it."
"And, like the pork, eh! it's just a little bit 'off'?" suggested the
visitor, returning his smile. "By the way, I want to ask you a
question or two about a boy. His name is Link--Something-or-other."
"Link Andrew?" The Schoolmaster gave him a quick look. "You don't
tell me he's in trouble again? Not been annoying you, sir, I hope?"
"On the contrary, I've taken a fancy to the lad; and, by the way
again, Link can't be his real name?"
"Short for Abraham Lincoln, as baptised," explained the Schoolmaster.
"At least, that's one theory. According to another it's short for
'Missing Link.' Not that the boy's bad-looking; but did you happen
to notice the length of his arms--like a gorilla's?"
"I could not avoid doing so."
Mr. Harris related the incident.
"It was exceedingly kind of you, sir, to pass over his conduct so
lightly. The fact is, if Link Andrew had been reported again he'd
have lost his hammock in the yacht. We all want him to go; some to
get rid of him for a spell, and others because we can't help liking
the boy.
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