" They do say that he speculated," remarked the
skipper, his eyes on more pigs farther down.
" Sold up ! " repeated Hans. " And what '11 become
of his daughter ? "

" Dina 's to go into service : that's sure and certain,"
repUed the skipper, glad in his own dull way to be the
purveyor of such important news.
Hans Golding sat chewing his cigar in silence. At
last he said — " Who'd 'a' thought it ? " which remark
struck him as so exceedingly apposite that he made it
over again.
" It's what you never think that always happens,"
said the philosophic skipper.
The carpenter slapped down his right hand on his
knee. " I've always loved that child for her father's
sake," he said ; " she was a quiet little feeble thing, not
much to look at, that timid and startled, afraid of a

317



WHY HE LOVED HER

dead mouse. She never took much notice of me, going
about in her own half-frightened way. Do you know,
I used to think she looked down on me all the same —
a charity boy, as you might say." He stared at the
skipper, but the skipper saw no reason to commit
himself.
" Well, it wouldn't 'a' been unnatural," reasoned
Hans. " I've often thought it out. She'd pass by me
that proud, as you might say, and not give me a look.
Some people say it was shyness, but it isn't natural her
being shy with a charity boy like me." He nodded his
head. " She was a little lady, she was," he said.
" She'll have to climb down," remarked the skipper,
who did not approve of these sentiments.
