`` I had a dog once . I thought so much of him that when he died I could n't bear the thought of getting another in his place . He was a FRIEND -- you understand , Mistress Blythe ? Matey 's only a pal . I 'm fond of Matey -- all the fonder on account of the spice of devilment that 's in him -- like there is in all cats . But I LOVED my dog . I always had a sneaking sympathy for Alexander Elliott about HIS dog . There is n't any devil in a good dog . That 's why they 're more lovable than cats , I reckon . But I 'm darned if they 're as interesting . Here I am , talking too much . Why do n't you check me ? When I do get a chance to talk to anyone I run on turrible . If you 've done your tea I 've a few little things you might like to look at -- picked 'em up in the queer corners I used to be poking my nose into . '' Captain Jim 's `` few little things '' turned out to be a most interesting collection of curios , hideous , quaint and beautiful . And almost every one had some striking story attached to it . Anne never forgot the delight with which she listened to those old tales that moonlit evening by that enchanted driftwood fire , while the silver sea called to them through the open window and sobbed against the rocks below them . Captain Jim never said a boastful word , but it was impossible to help seeing what a hero the man had been -- brave , true , resourceful , unselfish . He sat there in his little room and made those things live again for his hearers . By a lift of the eyebrow , a twist of the lip , a gesture , a word , he painted a whole scene or character so that they saw it as it was .
Some of Captain Jim 's adventures had such a marvellous edge that XXXXX and Gilbert secretly wondered if he were not drawing a rather long bow at their credulous expense .
Anne Blythe Elliott Jim Matey curios devilment evening fire turrible