"A thundering big mooseskeeter just settled on my--" here the sailor slapped his face again, as if he had just killed another tormentor. Alaya was sitting behind the coxswain's chair, apparently fast asleep. The old merchant murmured something about "soon being used--to--those--th--things," then snoozed off again, and snored. Alaya woke up, or pretended to do so, and the enchanted sailor soon was supporting her in the former manner. Poor girl, she was far too deeply in love to sit upon a chair, so Jerry kindly placed his arm round her waist to prevent her falling, while she fanned and drove him out of his senses at the same time. At last he whispered to her, "Do you love me, Alayer?" The girl nodded several times. "Kiss me!" Alaya did not know it was wrong. "The sahib was lovely, and no one had ever noticed her so before." "Kiss me!" repeated the enamoured tar. With a startled face, and quickly gazing round to make sure that no one was looking, the beautiful girl stooped forward, laid her soft lips upon those of the delighted sailor, and gave him a tender loving kiss; then, like a timid fawn, drew back and trembled with fear of discovery. At this moment her master awoke. After a yawn and stretch, Oldcrackle turned to his guest, but finding him to all appearance asleep, he ordered Alaya to wake him. When that difficult matter was accomplished, for the sailor pretended to be very fast asleep indeed, the merchant asked him "how he had enjoyed his forty winks." "I thought I was in Mayhomed's Parodice," replied Jerry, winking at the now placid Alaya; "and I would werry much rather never to have left again." "You sly dog!" said the other, and added _sotto voce_, "A married man, and talk so." The sailor laughed, saying, "Ah! I'm a deal slyer than you imagine." A hearty laugh followed this speech, then, hooking his arm within that of the _eccentric captain_, the delighted Oldcrackle conducted his _relation_ into the drawing-room, where they found every one engaged in playing whist. Thompson was pretty well employed in imbibing soda and brandy until a late hour, and was far from sober, when Oldcrackle, who had also taken a great deal more wine than his usual quantity, challenged him to play a game of whist, to which the sailor solemnly agreed. Alaya was watching them from the verandah. Seeing the girl, her master bade her fetch him a pack of cards. When she brought them into the room, Jerry caught her round the waist, and "declared he would marry her, if they would only schend for a parson." Up sprang the guests, who crowded round the "captain," and enjoyed the scene immensely. "Yesh," added the sailor, with the greatest gravity, "I'll marry her, she is the best and mosth beautifullish girl I ever met in all my bornish daish." "Let me go, sahib! let me go!" "No, you beaufiflish girlsh in the world. I'll keep you heresh for ever, and die with you in my armsh."