While thus creating a favorable impression for himself, Cabot grew much
interested in the young skipper of the schooner. He was surprised to
find one in his position so gentlemanly a chap, as well as so generally
well informed, and wondered where he had picked it all up.
"Are there good schools at Pretty Harbour?" he asked, with a view to
solving this problem.
"There is one, but it is only fairly good," answered White.
"Did you go to it?"
"Oh, no," laughed the other. "I went to school as well as to college
in St. Johns. You see, father was a merchant there until he bought a
great tract of land on the west coast. Then he gave up his business in
the city and came over here to establish a lobster factory, which at
that time promised to pay better than anything else on the island. He
left us all in St. Johns, and it was only after his death that we came
over here to live and try to save something from the wreck of his
property. Now I don't know what is to become of us; for, unless one is
allowed to can lobsters, there isn't much chance of making a living on
the French shore. If it wasn't for the others, I should take this
schooner and try a trading trip to Labrador, but mother has become so
much of an invalid that I hate to leave her with only my sister."
"What is your sister's name?"
"Cola."
"That's an odd name, and one I never heard before, but I think I like
it.
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