When Persis Leigh stepped onto the old wharf John Selwyn took her in his arms -- and folks stopped cheering and begun to cry . I cried myself , though 't was years , mind you , afore I 'd admit it . Ai n't it funny how ashamed boys are of tears ? '' `` Was Persis Leigh beautiful ? '' asked Anne . `` Well , I do n't know that you 'd call her beautiful exactly -- I -- do n't -- know , '' said Captain Jim slowly . `` Somehow , you never got so far along as to wonder if she was handsome or not . It jest did n't matter . There was something so sweet and winsome about her that you had to love her , that was all . But she was pleasant to look at -- big , clear , hazel eyes and heaps of glossy brown hair , and an English skin . John and her were married at our house that night at early candle-lighting ; everybody from far and near was there to see it and we all brought them down here afterwards . Mistress Selwyn lighted the fire , and we went away and left them sitting here , jest as John had seen in that vision of his . A strange thing -- a strange thing ! But I 've seen a turrible lot of strange things in my time . '' Captain Jim shook his head sagely . `` It 's a dear story , '' said Anne , feeling that for once she had got enough romance to satisfy her . `` How long did they live here ? '' `` Fifteen years . I ran off to sea soon after they were married , like the young scalawag I was . But every time I come back from a voyage I 'd head for here , even before I went home , and tell Mistress Selwyn all about it .
Fifteen happy XXXXX !
't English Jim John Leigh Selwyn candle-lighting fire scalawag years