Australian Tales - Setis

Mr. Dovecott here arose from his chair, kissed his laughing spouse on
both cheeks, and told her that she was sweeter than a ton of barley-sugar.
He then made a feint to dance a fandango, but was seized with a twinge
in his left leg, whereupon he reseated himself, rubbed his hands in merry
ecstacy, and laughed again, then resumed his narrative.
“One morning, directly I had got out of bed, I looked as usual from my
window at the flagstaff, and to my great delight there was a black ball on
the south yard arm, and a square blue flag at the mast head. Hurrah! there
is a ship to the southward, perhaps it's the Dolphin! and then I merrily
sang as I pulled on my holey stockings: —
“ ‘Haste, Nanny! I'm weary of living alone.’
“I dressed myself extra smart that morning, and oiled my bushy beard
and whiskers. I dare say my servant was a little doubtful of my taste, in
preferring the external air to hot coffee and mutton ham for breakfast, for
I would rise from the table every now and then and pop my head out of
the window to see if the ship were signalled. Presently I saw an angular
red flag run up under the blue one. Hurrah! I shouted; a ship from
London! ‘Tell Trap to get my boat ready immediately,’ I said to the
astonished servant. ‘Hurry, Duff, hurry: then you can clear the table. I
don't want any more breakfast.’
“Half an hour afterwards I was dashing down the harbour under all sail,
with a strong southerly breeze, and as I rounded Bradley's Head I could
see the Dolphin tacking up to her anchorage. How can I possibly
describe the alternations of hope and fear which filled my breast at that
exciting time, Mr. Boomerang? But I see you understand them, sir, by
your sympathizing muscular movements; you look as earnest as though
you were preparing to spring on deck to catch Nanny for me. I thank you
for the interest you display in my recital, sir. My well manned boat sped
swiftly over the waves, and in a very short time I was within hail of the
ship, and the first persons I distinguished on the poop, were my darling
Nanny and my devoted mother, side by side, waving their white
handkerchiefs in token of recognition.
“ ‘Ods, bobs, take hold of the tiller, Trap! boo — hoo — whoo!’ I
blubbered, in spite of all my manly efforts to look composed and
dignified; then dragging my handkerchief from my pocket, I buried my
face in it; and, as Paddy Spudd, the bowman, afterwards explained to his
hut mates, ‘I cudn't cry for laughin', and I cudn't laugh for cryin', nor I
cudn't spake for kissin' the girls afther I got on boord the ship.’
“Oh what an ecstatic meeting that was, sir! I can no more describe it
than I could paint a landscape. I mounted the gangway, and the first thing
I noticed was old Roseley sitting on the capstan playing a fiddle, which