Page:Between Two Loves.djvu/270

Rh all its dreamy discontent behind him. He never wanted in this new work to be idle. He put into it his whole soul, and duty was delight. The Captain watched him with pleasure and astonishment, and wondered at the marvellous transition. For it was not only in his mental aptitudes that the born sailor was manifest; as soon as Steve put on the blue flannel of the seaman he looked as if he was in his natural clothes. He kicked his corduroys over the side of the vessel, and buried his mill memories with them fathoms deep in the tossing ocean.

It must be acknowledged that at first Jonathan thought little of the enthusiastic hopes of Sarah for her brother in his new life. "It's this and it's that," he muttered, "and the newest thing is the best thing; but he'll never be worth the shoe-leather he'll wear out." And it was not unreasonable that he should feel hopeless of Steve, and also a little hard towards him. For so many years he had stood between Sarah and himself, and though he could not blame Sarah for her sisterly devotion, he did blame Steve for requiring it. He was very well pleased when the American proposal was made. He had often thought of it, but he felt that it would