midday
he wondered . That she did not know it herself he had been told by old Randle , who yet knew more of her history and the tragedy of her later life than any one else . Both young Denison , the supercargo of five-and-twenty , and Randle , the grizzled wanderer and veteran of sixty-five , had known many tragedies during their career in the Pacific ; but the story of this half-blind , crippled old woman , when he learnt it in full , appealed strongly to the younger man , and was never forgotten in his after life . ***** They had had a merry midday meal , during which Mary Eury -- for that was her name -- promised Denison that she would tell him all about herself after he and the Randles came back from shooting , `` but , '' she added , with her soft , tremulous laugh , `` only on one condition , Mr. Denison -- only on one condition . You must bring Captain Packenham to see me before the _ Palestine _ sails . I am an old woman-now , and would like to see him . I knew him many years ago when he was a lad of nineteen .