Page:The Life of William Morris.djvu/327

306 "'Mr. Lieutenant' (says she, taking about 4d. in small Danish money out of her pocket), 'will you take this?'

"Lieutenant. 'Thank you kindly; what am I to do with it?'

"O. L. 'Please to give it to the crew.'

"L. 'What will they do with it?'

"O. L. 'I do not wish them to drink too much.'

"L. 'Shall they drink coffee with it?'

"O. L. 'O yes, Mr. Lieutenant, that would be very nice.'

"L. grins and pockets the 4d. sterling, and the whole of 1, 2, and 3 disappear into Mr. Tomsen's shop, who manages to shut out No. 4, who takes its hands out of its pockets to take snuff and then settles itself to waiting till 1, 2, and 3 come out again.

"This is literal truth: also that the old lady wanted to be Guy Fawkesed about Iceland in a chair: also that she teased Mrs. Magnússon to buy her a lamb that she might cook it herself in her own private room, and scolded her heartily because she couldn't get her one at once: also that she slept on board ship with nothing over her but a sheet, though the thermometer was nearly at freezing point: also that she would hardly pay for anything, and (till the lamb came) was like to die of starvation (she told us she had £1,000 a year) if some one hadn't given her some plovers.

"I hear she went back by the return trip of the 'Diana' and, the weather being rough, was not much seen upon deck on the voyage: I still think she was the flying Dutchwoman. And now she is out of the story.

"We had a very successful journey, did all we meant to do, and had fine weather on the whole: a great comfort, as wet weather makes daily riding little more