Dodd's business. It shot him with
remorse, and made him feel a brute.
"Ha! ha! That is the way to speak to her, Mr. Dodd; the other
gentlemen spoil her."
"It was very unbecoming of me to speak to her harshly like that."
"Pooh! nonsense; these girls like to be ordered about; it saves them
the trouble of thinking for themselves; but what is to become of me?
You have sent off my workwoman."
"I will do her work for her."
"What! can you sew?"
"Where is the sailor that can't sew?"
"Delightful! Then please to sew these two thick ends together. Here is
a large needle."
David whipped out of his pocket a round piece of leather with strings
attached, and fastened it to the hollow of his hand.
"What is that?"
"It is a sailor's thimble." He took the work, held it neatly, and
shoved the needle from behind through the thick material. He worked
slowly and uncouthly, but with the precision that was a part of his
character, and made exact and strong stitches. His task-mistress
looked on, and, under the pretense of minute inspection, brought a
face that was still arch and pretty unnecessarily close to the marine
milliner, in which attitude they were surprised by Mr. Bazalgette,
who, having come in through the open folding-doors, stood looking
mighty sardonic at them both before they were even aware he was in the
room.
Omphale colored faintly, but Hercules gave a cool nod to the newcomer,
and stitched on with characteristic zeal and strict attention to the
matter in hand.
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