Everyone does.
But I forgot; you ha'n't seen him yet, and he can't come in, havin'
to look after the cask."
"The ca--" Miss Elizabeth had almost repeated the word, but managed
to check herself.
"You ought to consult someone about it, at your age," said Mr. Jope
solicitously. "Yes, the cask. Rum it is, an' a quarter-puncheon.
Bill and me clubbed an' bought it off the purser las' night, the
chaplain havin' advised us not to waste good prize-money ashore but
invest it in something we really wanted. But I don't know if you've
ever noticed how often one thing leads to another. You can't go
drinkin' out a quarter-puncheon o' rum in the high road, not very
well. So the next thing is, we want a house."
"But," said the girl, "who ever heard of a house to let hereabouts!"
Mr. Jope's face fell.
"Ain't there none? An' it seemed so retired, too, an' handy near
Plymouth."
"There's not a house to let in St. Dilp parish, unless it be the
Rectory."
Mr. Jope's face brightened.
"Then we'll take the Rectory," he said. "Where is it?"
"Down by the river. . . . But 'tis nonsense you're tellin'.
The Rectory indeed! Why, it's a seat!"
Mr.
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