“Yes, I think so, Joe.  My mother doesn’t much care about my being out at night, you know; but as I have been away all this time to please her, I expect she will let me do what I like for the rest of the holidays.”

“Don’t you come if your mother don’t like it, Master Conway; there is never no good comes of boys vexing their mothers.  I have known misfortune to follow it over and over again.  Boys think as they know best what’s good for them; but they don’t, and sooner or later they are sure to own it to themselves.”

“I shouldn’t do it if I knew she really didn’t like it, Joe; but I don’t think she does mind my going out with you at any time.  She knows she can trust you.  Beside, what harm could come of it?  You never go out in very rough weather.”

“Pretty roughish sometimes, Master Conway.”

“Oh, yes, pretty rough; but not in a gale, you know.  Beside, the Heartsease could stand a goodish gale.  She is not very fast, you know, but she is as safe as a house.”

“She is fast enough,” the old fisherman said in an injured tone.  “But you young gentlemen is never content unless a boat is heeling over, gunnel under, and passing everything she comes across.  What’s the good of that ere to a fisherman?  He goes out to catch fish, not to strain his craft all over by running races against another.  Now an hour faster or slower makes no difference, and the Heartsease is fast enough for me, anyhow.”

“No, she isn’t, Joe.  I have heard you use bad language enough when anything overhauls and passes her on the way back to port.”

“Ay, that may be,” the fisherman admitted; “and on the way home I grant you that a little more speed might be an advantage, for the first comer is sure to get the best market.  No, the Heartsease ain’t very fast, I own up to that; but she is safe and steady, and she has plenty of storage room and a good roomy cabin as you can stand upright in, and needn’t break your back by stooping as you have to do on board some craft I could name.”

“That’s true enough, Joe,” the boy said.

“But what’s more, she’s a lucky boat; for it’s seldom that she goes out without getting a good catch.”

“I think that’s more judgment than luck, Joe; though there may be some luck in it too.”

“I don’t know about that, Master Conway.  Of course one wants a sharp eye to see where the shoals are moving; but I believes in luck.  Well, sir, shall I see you again before the afternoon?”

“I don’t much expect so, Joe.  I have got to call at some other places, and I don’t suppose I shall have time to get down before.  If I am coming I shall be sure to be punctual; so if I am not here by four, go off without me.”