A MASTER OF CRAFT. 

By W. W. JACOBS. 

1899

CHAPTER I. 

A pretty girl stood alone on the jetty of an old-fashioned wharf atWapping, looking down upon the silent deck of a schooner below. No smokeissued from the soot-stained cowl of the galley, and the fore-scuttleand the companion were both inhospitably closed. The quiet of eveningwas over everything, broken only by the whirr of the paddles of apassenger steamer as it passed carefully up the centre of the river, orthe plash of a lighterman's huge sweep as he piloted his unwieldy craftdown on the last remnant of the ebb-tide. In shore, various craft satlightly on the soft Thames mud: some sheeting a rigid uprightness, others with their decks at various angles of discomfort. 

The girl stood a minute or two in thought, and put her small foot outtentatively towards the rigging some few feet distant. It was an awkwardjump, and she was still considering it, when she heard footsteps behind, and a young man, increasing his pace as he saw her, came rapidly on tothe jetty. 

"This is the _Foam_, isn't it?" enquired the girl, as he stoodexpectantly. "I want to see Captain Flower. "

"He went ashore about half an hour ago, " said the other. 

The girl tapped impatiently with her foot. "You don't know what timehe'll be back, I suppose?" she enquired. 

He shook his head. "I think he's gone for the evening, " he said, pondering; "he was very careful about his dress. "

The ghost of a smile trembled on the girl's lips. "He has gone to callfor me, " she said. "I must have missed him. I wonder what I'd betterdo. "

"Wait here till he comes back, " said the man, without hesitation. 

The girl wavered. "I suppose, he'll guess I've come here, " she said, thoughtfully. 

"Sure to, " said the other promptly. 

"It's a long way to Poplar, " she said, reflectively. "You're Mr. Fraser, the mate, I suppose? Captain Flower has spoken to me about you. "

"That's my name, " said the other. 

"My name's Tyrell, " said the girl, smiling. "I daresay you've heardCaptain Flower mention it?"

"Must have done, " said Fraser, slowly. He stood looking at the girlbefore him, at her dark hair and shining dark eyes, inwardly wonderingwhy the captain, a fervid admirer of the sex, had _not_ mentioned her. 

"Will you come on board and wait?" he asked. "I'll bring a chair up ondeck for you if you will. "

The girl stood a moment in consideration, and then, with another faintreference to the distance of Poplar from Wapping, assented. The matesprang nimbly into the ratlins, and then, extending a hand, helped hercarefully to the deck. 

"How nice it feels to be on a ship again!" said the girl, lookingcontentedly about her, as the mate brought up a canvas chair from below. "I used to go with my father sometimes when he was alive, but I haven'tbeen on a ship now for two years or more. "

The mate, who was watching her closely, made no reply. He was thinkingthat a straw hat with scarlet flowers went remarkably well with the darkeyes and hair beneath it, and also that the deck of the schooner hadnever before seemed such an inviting place as it was at this moment. 

"Captain Flower keeps his ship in good condition, " said the visitor, somewhat embarrassed by his gaze. 

"He takes a pride in her, " said Fraser; "and it's his uncle's craft, sothere's no stint. She never wants for paint or repairs, and Flower's asnice a man to sail under as one could wish. We've had the same crew foryears. "

"He's very kind and jolly, " said the girl. 

"He's one of the best fellows breathing, " said the mate, warmly; "hesaved my life once--went overboard after me when we were doing over tenknots an hour, and was nearly drowned himself. "

"That was fine of him, " said Miss Tyrell, eagerly. "He never told meanything about it, and I think that's rather fine too. I like brave men. Have you ever been overboard after anybody?"

Fraser shook his head somewhat despondently. "I'm not much of aswimmer, " said he. 

"But you'd go in for anybody if you saw them drowning?" persisted MissTyrell, in a surprised voice. 

"I don't know, i'm sure, " said Fraser. "I hope I should. "

"Do you mean to say, " said Miss Tyrell, severely, "that if I fell intothe river here, for instance, you wouldn't jump in and try to save me?"

"Of course I should. " said Fraser, hotly. "I should jump in after you ifI couldn't swim a stroke. "

Miss Tyrell, somewhat taken aback, murmured her gratification. 

"I should go in after you, " continued the mate who was loath to departfrom the subject, "if it was blowing a gale, and the sea full ofsharks. "

"What a blessing it is there are no sharks round our coast, " said MissTyrell, in somewhat of a hurry to get away from the mate's heroism. "Have you ever seen one?"

"Saw them in the Indian Ocean when I was an apprentice, " replied Fraser. 

"You've been on foreign-going ships then?" said the girl. "I wonder yougave it up for this. "

"This suits me better, " said Fraser; "my father's an old man, and hewanted me home. I shall have a little steamer he's got an interest inas soon as her present skipper goes, so it's just as well for me to knowthese waters. "

In this wise they sat talking until evening gave way to night, andthe deck of the _Foam_ was obscured in shadow. Lamps were lit on thewharves, and passing craft hung out their side-lights. The girl rose toher feet. 

"I won't wait any longer; I must be going, " she said. 

"He may be back at any moment, " urged the mate. 

"No, I'd better go, thank you, " replied the girl; "it's getting late. Idon't like going home alone. "

"I'll come with you, if you'll let me, " said the mate, eagerly. 

"All the way?" said Miss Tyrell, with the air of one bargaining. 

"Of course, " said Fraser. 

"Well, I'll give him another half-hour, then, " said the girl, calmly. "Shall we go down to the cabin? It's rather chilly up here now. "

The mate showed her below, and, lighting the lamp, took a seat oppositeand told her a few tales of the sea, culled when he was an apprentice, and credulous of ear. Miss Tyrell retaliated with some told her byher father, from which Fraser was able to form his own opinion of thatestimable mariner. The last story was of a humourous nature, andthe laughter which ensued grated oddly on the ear of the sturdy, good-looking seaman who had just come on board. He stopped at thecompanion for a moment listening in amazement, and then, hastilydescending, entered the cabin. 

"Poppy!" he cried. "Why, I've been waiting up at the Wheelers' for youfor nearly a couple of hours. "

"I must have missed you, " said Miss Tyrell, serenely. "Annoying, isn'tit?"

The master of the _Foam_ said it was, and seemed from his manner to beanxious to do more justice to the subject than that. 

"I didn't dream you'd come down here, " he said, at length. 

"No, you never invited me, so I came without, " said the girl softly;"it's a dear little schooner, and I like it very much. I shall comeoften. "

A slight shade passed over Captain Flower's face, but he said nothing. 

"You must take me back now, " said Miss Tyrell. "Good-bye, Mr. Fraser. "

She held out her hand to the mate, and giving a friendly pressure, leftthe cabin, followed by Flower. 

The mate let them get clear of the ship, and then, clambering on tothe jetty, watched them off the wharf, and, plunging his hands into hispockets, whistled softly. 

"Poppy Tyrell, " he said to himself, slowly. "Poppy Tyrell! I wonder whythe skipper has never mentioned her. I wonder why she took his arm. Iwonder whether she knows that he's engaged to be married. "

Deep in thought he paced slowly up and down the wharf, and then wanderedlistlessly round the piled-up empties and bags of sugar in the openfloor beneath the warehouse. A glance through the windows of the officeshowed him the watchman slumbering peacefully by the light of a solitarygas-jet, and he went back to the schooner and gazed at the dark waterand the dim shapes of the neighbouring craft in a vein of gentlemelancholy. He walked to the place where her chair had been, and triedto conjure up the scene again; then, becoming uncertain as to the exactspot, went down to the cabin, where, the locker being immovable, nosuch difficulty presented itself. He gazed his fill, and then, smoking ameditative pipe, turned in and fell fast asleep. 

He was awakened suddenly from a dream of rescuing a small sharksurrounded by a horde of hungry Poppies, by the hurried and dramaticentrance of Captain Fred Flower. The captain's eyes were wild and hisface harassed, and he unlocked the door of his state-room and stood withthe handle of it in his hand before he paused to answer the question inthe mate's sleepy eyes. 

"It's all right, Jack, " he said, breathlessly. 

"I'm glad of that, " said the mate, calmly. 

"I hurried a bit, " said the skipper. 

"Anxious to see me again, I suppose, " said the mate; "what are youlistening for?"

"Thought I heard somebody in the water as I came aboard, " said Flowerglibly. 

"What have you been up to?" enquired the other, quickly. 

Captain Flower turned and regarded him with a look of offended dignity. 

"Good heavens! don't look like that, " said the mate, misreading it. "Youhaven't chucked anybody overboard, have you?"

"If anybody should happen to come aboard this vessel, " said Flower, without deigning to reply to the question, "and ask questions about themaster of it, he's as unlike me, Jack, as any two people in this worldcan be. D'ye understand?"

"You'd better tell me what you've been up to, " urged the mate. 

"As for your inquisitiveness, Jack, it don't become you, " said Flower, with severity; "but I don't suppose it'll be necessary to trouble you atall. "

He walked out of the cabin and stood listening at the foot of thecompanion-ladder, and the mate heard him walk a little way up. When hereentered the cabin his face had cleared, and he smiled comfortably. 

"I shall just turn in for an hour, " he said, amiably; "good-night, Jack. "

"Good-night, " said the curious mate. "I say----" he sat up suddenly inhis bunk and looked seriously at the skipper. 

"Well?" said the other. 

"I suppose, " said the mate, with a slight cough--"I suppose it'snothing about that girl that was down here?"

"Certainly not, " said Flower, violently. He extinguished the lamp, and, entering his state-room, closed the door and locked it, and the mate, after lying a little while drowsily wondering what it all meant, fellasleep again. 

CHAPTER II. 

WHILE the skipper and mate slumbered peacefully below, the watchman saton a post at the extreme end of the jetty, yearning for human societyand gazing fearfully behind him at the silent, dimly-lit wharf. The twogas-lamps high up on the walls gave but a faint light, and in no waydispelled the deep shadows thrown by the cranes and the piled-up emptieswhich littered the place. He gazed intently at the dark opening of thefloor beneath the warehouse, half fancying that he could again discernthe veiled apparition which had looked in at him through the officewindow, and had finally vanished before his horror-struck eyes in acorner the only outlet to which was a grating. Albeit a careful man andtender, the watchman pinched himself. He was awake, and, rubbing theinjured part, swore softly. 

"If I go down and tell 'em, " he murmured softly, in allusion to thecrew, "what'll they do? Laugh at me. "

He glanced behind him again, and, rising hastily to his feet, nearlyfell on to the deck below as a dark figure appeared for a moment at theopening and then vanished again. With more alacrity than might have beenexpected of a man of his figure, he dropped into the rigging and loweredhimself on to the schooner. 

The scuttle was open, and the seamen's lusty snores fell upon his earslike sweet music. He backed down the ladder, and groped in the darknesstowards the bunks with outstretched hand. One snore stopped instantly. 

"Eh!" said a sleepy voice. "Wot! 'Ere, what the blazes are you up to?"

"A' right, Joe, " said the watchman, cheerfully. 

"But it ain't all right, " said the seaman, sharply, "comin' down in thedark an' ketchin' 'old o' people's noses. Give me quite a start, youdid. "

"It's nothing to the start I've 'ad, " said the other, pathetically;"there's a ghost on the wharf, Joe. I want you to come up with me andsee what it is. 

"Yes, I'm sure to do that, " said Joe, turning over in his bunk tillit creaked with his weight. "Go away, and let me get to sleep again. Idon't get a night's rest like you do, you know. "

"What's the matter?" enquired a sleepy voice. 

"Old George 'ere ses there's a ghost on the wharf, " said Joe. 

"I've seen it three times, " said the watchman, eager for sympathy. 

"I expect it's a death-warning for you, George, " said the voice, solemnly. "The last watchman died sudden, you remember. "

"So he did, " said Joe. 

"His 'art was wrong, " said George, curtly; "'ad been for years. "

"Well, we can't do nothin' for you, George, " said Joe, kindly; "it's nogood us going up. _We_ sha'n't see it. It isn't meant for us. "

"'Ow d'yer know it's a ghost, " said a third voice, impatiently; "verylikely while you're all jawing about it down 'ere it's a-burglin' theoffis. "

Joe gave a startled grunt, and, rolling out of his bunk, grabbed histrousers, and began to dress. Three other shadowy forms followed suit, and, hastily dressing, followed the watchman on deck and gained thewharf. They went through the gloomy ground floor in a body, yawningsleepily. 

"I shouldn't like to be a watchman, " said a young ordinary seaman namedTim, with a shiver; "a ghost might easy do anything with you while youwas all alone. P'r'aps it walks up an' down behind you, George, makin'faces. We shall be gorn in another hour, George. "

The office, when they reached it, was undisturbed, and, staying onlylong enough to drink the watchman's coffee, which was heating on agas-jet, they left it and began to search the wharf, Joe leading with asmall lantern. 

"Are we all 'ere?" demanded Tim, suddenly. 

"I am, " said the cook, emphatically. 

"'Cos I see su'thing right behind them bags o' sugar, " said the youth, clutching hold of the cook on one side and the watchman on the other. "Spread out a bit, chaps. "

Joe dashed boldly round with the lantern. There was a faint scream andan exclamation of triumph from the seaman. "I've got it!" he shouted. 

The others followed hastily, and saw the fearless Joe firmly grippingthe apparition. At the sight the cook furtively combed his hair with hisfingers, while Tim modestly buttoned up his jacket. 

"Take this lantern, so's I can hold her better, " said Joe, extending it. 

The cook took it from him, and holding it up, revealed the face of atall, good-looking woman of some seven or eight and twenty. 

"What are you doin' here?" demanded the watchman, with officialausterity. 

"I'm waiting for a friend of mine, " said the visitor, struggling withJoe. "Make this man leave go of me, please. "

"Joe, " said the watchman, with severity. "I'm ashamed of you. Who isyour friend, miss?"

"His name is Robinson, " said the lady. "He came on here about an hourago. I'm waiting for him. "

"There's nobody here, " said the watchman, shaking his head. 

"I'm not sure he didn't go on that little ship, " said the lady; "but ifhe has, I suppose I can wait here till he comes off. I'm not doing anyharm. "

"The ship'll sail in about an hour's time, miss, " said Tim, regretfully, "but there ain't nobody o' the name of Robinson aboard her. All thecrew's 'ere, and there's only the skipper and mate on her besides. "

"You can't deceive me, young man, so don't try it, " said the lady, sharply. "I followed him on here, and he hasn't gone off, because thegate has been locked since. "

"I can't think who the lady means, " said Joe. 

"I ain't seen nobody come aboard. If he did, he's down the cabin. "

"Well, I'll go down there, " said the lady, promptly. 

"Well, miss, it's nothing to do with us, " said Joe, "but it's my opinionyou'll find the skipper and mate has turned in. "

"Well, I'm going down, " said the lady, gripping her parasol firmly bythe middle; "they can't eat me. "

She walked towards the _Foam_, followed by the perplexed crew, andwith the able assistance of five pairs of hands reached the deck. Thecompanion was open, and at Joe's whispered instructions she turned anddescended the steps backwards. 

It was at first quite dark in the cabin, but as the visitor's eyesbecame accustomed to it, she could just discern the outlines of a smalltable, while a steady breathing assured her that somebody was sleepingclose by. Feeling her way to the table she discovered, a locker, and, taking a seat, coughed gently. The breathing continuing quiteundisturbed, she coughed again, twice. 

The breathing stopped suddenly. "Who the devil's that coughing?" asked asurprised voice. 

"I beg pardon, I'm sure, " said the visitor, "but is there a Mr. Robinsondown here?"

The reply was so faint and smothered that she could not hear it. It wasevident that the speaker, a modest man, was now speaking from beneaththe bedclothes. 

"Is Mr. Robinson here?" she repeated loudly. 

"Never heard of him, " said the smothered voice. 

"It's my opinion, " said the visitor, hotly, "that you're trying todeceive me. Have you got a match?"

The owner of the voice said that he had not, and with chilly proprietyadded that he wouldn't give it to her if he had. Whereupon the ladyrose, and, fumbling on the little mantel-piece, found a box and struckone. There was a lamp nailed to the bulkhead over the mantel-piece, andcalmly removing the chimney, she lit it. 

A red, excited face, with the bedclothes fast about its neck, appearedin a small bunk and stared at her in speechless amaze. The visitorreturned his gaze calmly, and then looked carefully round the cabin. 

"Where does that lead to?" she asked, pointing to the door of thestate-room. 

The mate, remembering in time the mysterious behaviour of Flower, considered the situation. "That's the pantry, " he said, untruthfully. 

The visitor rose and tried the handle. The door was locked, and shelooked doubtfully at the mate. "I suppose that's a leg of mutton I canhear asleep in there, " she said, with acerbity. 

"You can suppose what you like, " said the mate, testily; "why don't yougo away? I'm surprised at you. "

"You'll be more surprised before I've done with you, " said the lady, with emotion. "My Fred's in there, and you know it. "

"Your Fred!" said Fraser, in great surprise. 

"Mr. Robinson, " said the visitor, correcting herself. 

"I tell you there's nobody in there except the skipper, " said the mate. 

"You said it was the pantry just now, " exclaimed the other, sharply. 

"The skipper sleeps in the pantry so's he can keep his eye on the meat, "explained Fraser. 

The visitor looked at him angrily. "What sort of a man is he?" sheenquired, suddenly. 

"You'll soon know if he comes out, " said the mate. "He's theworst-tempered man afloat, I should think. If he comes out and finds youhere, I don't know what he'll do. "

"I'm not afraid of him, " said the other, with spirit. "What do you callhim? Skipper?"

The mate nodded, and the visitor tapped loudly at the door. "Skipper!"she cried, "Skipper!"

No answer being vouchsafed, she repeated her cry in a voice louder thanbefore. 

"He's a heavy sleeper, " said the perturbed Fraser; "better go away, there's a good girl. "

The lady, scornfully ignoring him, rapped on the door and again calledupon its occupant. Then, despite her assurance, she sprang back with ascream as a reply burst through the door with the suddenness and fury ofa thunder-clap. 

"Halloa!" it said. 

"My goodness, " said the visitor, aghast. "What a voice! What a terriblevoice!"

She recovered herself and again approached the door. 

"Is there a gentleman named Robinson in there?" she asked, timidly. 

"Gentleman named who?" came the thunderclap again. 

"Robinson, " said the lady, faintly. 

"No! No!" said the thunder-clap. Then--"Go away, " it rumbled. "Goaway. "

The reverberation of that mighty voice rolled and shook through thecabin. It even affected the mate, for the visitor, glancing towards him, saw that he had nervously concealed himself beneath the bedclothes, andwas shaking with fright. 

"I daresay his bark is worse than his bite, " said the visitor, trembling; "anyway, I'm going to stay here. I saw Mr. Robinson comehere, and I believe he's got him in there. Killing him, perhaps. Oh!Oh!"

To the mate's consternation she began to laugh, and then changed to apiercing scream, and, unused to the sex as he was, he realised that thiswas the much-dreaded hysteria of which he had often heard, and he facedher with a face as pallid as her own. 

"Chuck some water over yourself, " he said, hastily, nodding at a jugwhich stood on the table. "I can't very well get up to do it myself. "

The lady ignored this advice, and by dint of much strength of mindregained her self-control. She sat down on the locker again, and foldingher arms showed clearly her intention to remain. 

Half an hour passed; the visitor still sat grimly upright. Twice shesniffed slightly, and, with a delicate handkerchief, pushed up her veiland wiped away the faint beginnings of a tear. 

"I suppose you think I'm acting strangely?" she said, catching themate's eye after one of these episodes. 

"Oh, don't mind me, " said the mate, with studied politeness; "don't mindhurting my feelings or taking _my_ character away. "

"Pooh! you're a man, " said the visitor, scornfully; "but character orno character, I'm going to see into that room before I go away, if I sithere for three weeks. "

"How're you going to manage about eating and drinking all that time?"enquired Fraser. 

"How are you?" said the visitor; "you can't get up while I'm here, youknow. "

"Well, we'll see, " said the mate, vaguely. 

"I'm sure I don't want to annoy anybody, " said the visitor, softly, "butI've had a lot of trouble, young man, and what's worse, I've been made afool of. This day three weeks ago I ought to have been married. "

"I'm sure you ought, " murmured the other. 

The lady ignored the interruption. 

"Travelling under Government on secret service, he said he was, " shecontinued; "always away: here to-day, China to-morrow, and America theday after. "

"Flying?" queried the interested mate. 

"I daresay, " snapped the visitor; "anything to tell me, I suppose. We were to be married by special license. I'd even got my _trousseau_ready. "

"Got your _what_ ready?" enquired the mate, to whom the word was new, leaning out of his bunk. 

"Everything to wear, " explained the visitor. "All my relations boughtnew clothes, too; leastways, those that could afford it did. He evenwent and helped me choose the cake. "

"Well, is that wrong?" asked the puzzled mate. 

"He didn't buy it, he only chose it, " said the other, having recourse toher handkerchief again. "He went outside the shop to see whether therewas one he would like better, and when I came out he had disappeared. "

"He must have met with an accident, " said the mate, politely. 

"I saw him to-night, " said the lady, tersely. 

"Once or twice he had mentioned Wapping in conversation, and thenseemed to check himself. That was my clue. I've been round this dismalheathenish place for a fortnight. To-night I saw him; he came on thiswharf, _and he has not gone off_. . . . It's my belief he's in that room. "

Before the mate could reply the hoarse voice of the watchman came downthe company-way. "Ha' past eleven, sir; tide's just on the turn. "

"Aye, aye, " said the mate. He turned imploringly to the visitor. 

"Would you do me the favour just to step on deck a minute?"

"What for?" enquired the visitor, shortly. 

"Because I want to get up, " said the mate. 

"I sha'n't move, " said the lady. 

"But I've got to get up, I tell you, " said the mate; "we're gettingunder way in ten minutes. "

"And what might that be?" asked the lady. 

"Why, we make a start. You'd better go ashore unless you want to becarried off. "

"I sha'n't move, " repeated the visitor. 

"Well, I'm sorry to be rude, " said the mate. "George. "

"Sir, " said the watchman from above. 

"Bring down a couple o' men and take this lady ashore, " said the matesternly. 

"I'll _send_ a couple down, sir, " said the watchman, and moved off tomake a selection. 

"I shall scream 'murder and thieves, '" said the lady, her eyesgleaming. "I'll bring the police up and cause a scandal. Then perhaps Ishall see into that room. "

In the face of determination like this the mate's courage gave way, andin a voice of much anxiety he called upon his captain for instruction. 

"Cast off, " bellowed the mighty voice. "If your sweetheart won't goashore she must come, too. You must pay her passage. "

"Well, of all the damned impudence, " muttered the incensed mate. "Well, if you're bent on coming, " he said, hotly, to the visitor, "just go ondeck while I dress. "

The lady hesitated a moment and then withdrew. On deck the men eyed hercuriously, but made no attempt to interfere with her, and in a couple ofminutes the mate came running up to take charge. 

"Where are we going?" enquired the lady with a trace of anxiety in hervoice. 

"France, " said Fraser, turning away. 

The visitor looked nervously round. At the adjoining wharf a sailingbarge was also getting under way, and a large steamer was slowly turningin the middle of the river. She took a pace or two towards the side. 

"Cast off, " said Fraser, impatiently, to the watchman. 

"Wait a minute, " said the visitor, hastily, "I want to think. "

"Cast off, " repeated the mate. 

The watchman obeyed, and the schooner's side moved slowly from thewharf. At the sight the visitor's nerve forsook her, and with a franticcry she ran to the side and, catching the watchman's outstretched hand, sprang ashore. 

"Good-bye, " sang out the mate; "sorry you wouldn't come to _France_with us. The lady was afraid of the _foreigners_, George. If it had been_England_ she wouldn't have minded. "

"Aye, aye, " said the watchman, significantly, and, as the schoonershowed her stern, turned to answer, with such lies as he thought theoccasion demanded, the eager questions of his fair companion. 

CHAPTER III. 

Captain Flower, learning through the medium of Tim that the coast wasclear, came on deck at Limehouse, and took charge of his ship with astateliness significant of an uneasy conscience. He noticed with growingindignation that the mate's attitude was rather that of an accomplicethan a subordinate, and that the crew looked his way far oftener thanwas necessary or desirable. 

"I told her we were going to France, " said the mate, in an impressivewhisper. 

"Her?" said Flower, curtly. "Who?"

"The lady you didn't want to see, " said Fraser, restlessly. 

"You let your ideas run away with you, Jack, " said Flower, yawning. "It wasn't likely I was going to turn out and dress to see any girl youliked to invite aboard. "

"Or even to bawl at them through the speaking-trumpet, " said Fraser, looking at him steadily. 

"What sort o'looking girl was she?" enquired Flower, craning his neck tosee what was in front of him. 

"Looked like a girl who meant to find the man she wanted, if she spentten years over it, " said the mate grimly. "I'll bet you an even fiveshillings, cap'n, that she finds this Mr. Robinson before six weeks areout--whatever his other name is. "

"Maybe, " said Flower, carelessly. 

"It's her first visit to the _Foam_, but not the last, you mark mywords, " said Fraser, solemnly. "If she wants this rascal Robinson----"

"What?" interrupted Flower, sharply. 

"I say if she wants this rascal Robinson, " repeated the mate, withrelish, "she'll naturally come where she saw the last trace of him. "

Captain Flower grunted. 

"Women never think, " continued Fraser, judicially, "or else she'd beglad to get rid of such a confounded scoundrel. "

"What do you know about him?" demanded Flower. 

"I know what she told me, " said Fraser; "the idea of a man leaving apoor girl in a cake-shop and doing a bolt. He'll be punished for it, I know. He's a thoughtless, inconsiderate fellow, but one of thebest-hearted chaps in the world, and I guess I'll do the best I can forhim. "

Flower grinned safely in the darkness. "And any little help I can giveyou, Jack, I'll give freely, " he said, softly. "We'll talk it over atbreakfast. "

The mate took the hint, and, moving off, folded his arms on thetaffrail, and, looking idly astern, fell into a reverie. Like thePharisee, he felt thankful that he was not as other men, and dimlypitied the skipper and his prosaic entanglements, as he thought ofPoppy. He looked behind at the dark and silent city, and felt a newaffection for it, as he reflected that she was sleeping there. 

The two men commenced their breakfast in silence, the skipper eatingwith a zest which caused the mate to allude impatiently to the lastbreak-fasts of condemned men. 

"Shut the skylight, Jack, " said the skipper, at length, as he poured outhis third cup of coffee. 

Fraser complied, and resuming his seat gazed at him with almost indecentexpectancy. The skipper dropped some sugar into his coffee, and stirringit in a meditative fashion, sighed gently. 

"I've been making a fool of myself, Jack, " he said, at length. "I wasalways one to be fond of a little bit of adventure, but this goes alittle too far, even for me. "

"But what did you get engaged to her for?" enquired Fraser. 

Flower shook his head. "She fell violently in love with me, " he said, mournfully. "She keeps the Blue Posts up at Chelsea. Her father left itto her. She manages her step-mother and her brother and everybody else. I was just a child in her hands. You know my easy-going nature. "

"But you made love to her, " expostulated the mate. 

"In a way, I suppose I did, " admitted the other. "I don't know nowwhether she could have me up for breach of promise, because when I askedher I did it this way. I said, 'Will you be Mrs. Robinson?' What do youthink?"

"I should think it would make it harder for you, " said Fraser. "Butdidn't you remember Miss Banks while all this was going on?"

"In a way, " said Flower, "yes--in a way. But after a man's been engagedto a woman nine years, it's very easy to forget, and every year makes iteasier. Besides, I was only a boy when I was engaged to her. "

"Twenty-eight, " said Fraser. 

"Anyway, I wasn't old enough to know my own mind, " said Flower, "andmy uncle and old Mrs. Banks made it up between them. They arrangedeverything, and I can't afford to offend the old man. If I married MissTipping--that's the Blue Posts girl--he'd leave his money away fromme; and if I marry Elizabeth, Miss Tipping'll have me up for breach ofpromise--if she finds me. "

"If you're not very careful, " said Fraser, impressively, "you'll loseboth of 'em. "

The skipper leaned over the table, and glanced carefully round. "Justwhat I want to do, " he said, in a low voice. "I'm engaged to anothergirl. "

"What?" cried the mate, raising his voice. "_Three_?"

"Three, " repeated the skipper. "Only three, " he added, hastily, as hesaw a question trembling on the other's lips. 

"I'm ashamed of you, " said the latter, severely; "you ought to knowbetter. "

"I don't want any of your preaching, Jack, " said the skipper, briskly;"and, what's more, I won't have it. I deserve more pity than blame. "

"You'll want all you can get, " said Fraser, ominously. "And does theother girl know of any of the others?"

"Of either of the others--no, " corrected Flower. "Of course, none ofthem know. You don't think I'm a fool, do you?"

"Who is number three?" enquired the mate suddenly. 

"Poppy Tyrell, " replied the other. 

"Oh, " said Fraser, trying to speak unconcernedly; "the girl who camehere last evening. "

Flower nodded. "She's the one I'm going to marry, " he said, colouring. "I'd sooner marry her than command a liner. I'll marry her if I loseevery penny I'm going to have, but I'm not going to lose the money if Ican help it. I want both. "

The mate baled out his cup with a spoon and put the contents into thesaucer. 

"I'm a sort of guardian to her, " said Flower. "Her father, CaptainTyrell, died about a year ago, and I promised him I'd look after her andmarry her. It's a sacred promise. "

"Besides, you want to, " said Fraser, by no means in the mood to allowhis superior any credit in the matter, "else you wouldn't do it. "

"You don't know me, Jack, " said the skipper, more in sorrow than inanger. 

"No, I didn't think you were quite so bad, " said the mate, slowly. "Is--Miss Tyrell--fond of you?"

"Of course she is, " said Flower, indignantly; "they all are, that's theworst of it. You were never much of a favourite with the sex, Jack, wereyou?"

Fraser shook his head, and, the saucer being full, spooned the contentsslowly back into the cup again. 

"Captain Tyrell leave any money?" he enquired. 

"Other way about, " replied Flower. "I lent him, altogether, close on ahundred pounds. He was a man of very good position, but he took to drinkand lost his ship and his self-respect, and all he left behind was hisdebts and his daughter. "

"Well, you're in a tight place, " said Fraser, "and I don't see howyou're going to get out of it. Miss Tipping's got a bit of a clue to younow, and if she once discovers you, you're done. Besides, suppose MissTyrell finds anything out?"

"It's all excitement, " said Flower, cheerfully. "I've been in worsescrapes than this and always got out of 'em. I don't like a quiet life. I never worry about things, Jack, because I've noticed that the thingspeople worry about never happen. "

"Well, if I were you, then, " said the other, emphasizing his point withthe spoon, "I should just worry as much as I could about it. I'd get upworrying and I'd go to bed worrying. I'd worry about it in my sleep. "

"I shall come out of it all right, " said Flower. "I rather enjoy it. There's Gibson would marry Elizabeth like a shot if she'd have him; but, of course, she won't look at him while I'm above ground. I have thoughtof getting somebody to tell Elizabeth a lot of lies about me. "

"Why, wouldn't the truth do?" enquired the mate, artlessly. 

The skipper turned a deaf ear. "But she wouldn't believe a word againstme, " he said, with mournful pride, as he rose and went on deck. "Shetrusts me too much. "

From his knitted brows, as he steered, it was evident, despite hisconfidence, that this amiable weakness on the part of Miss Banks wascausing him some anxiety, a condition which was not lessened by theconsiderate behaviour of the mate, who, when any fresh complicationsuggested itself to him, dutifully submitted it to his commander. 

"I shall be all right, " said Flower, confidently, as they entered theriver the following afternoon and sailed slowly along the narrowchannel which wound its sluggish way through an expanse of mud-banks toSeabridge. 

The mate, who was suffering from symptoms hitherto unknown to him, madeno reply. His gaze wandered idly from the sloping uplands, stretchingaway into the dim country on the starboard side, to the littlechurch-crowned town ahead, with its out-lying malt houses and neglected, grass-grown quay, A couple of moribund ship's boats lay rotting in themud, and the skeleton of a fishing-boat completed the picture. For thefirst time perhaps in his life, the landscape struck him as dull anddreary. 

Two men of soft and restful movements appeared on the quay as theyapproached, and with the slowness characteristic of the best work, helped to make them fast in front of the red-tiled barn which served asa warehouse. Then Captain Flower, after descending to the cabin to makethe brief shore-going toilet necessary for Seabridge society, turned togive a last word to the mate. 

"I'm not one to care much what's said about me, Jack, " he began, by wayof preface. 

"That's a good job for you, " said Fraser, slowly. 

"Same time let the hands know I wish 'em to keep their mouths shut, "pursued the skipper; "just tell them it was a girl that you knew, andI don't want it talked about for fear of getting you into trouble. Keep_me_ out of it; that's all I ask. "

"If cheek will pull you through, " said Fraser, with a slight display ofemotion, "you'll do. Perhaps I'd better say that Miss Tyrell came to seeme, too. How would you like that?"

"Ah, it would be as well, " said Flower, heartily. "I never thought ofit. "

He stepped ashore, and at an easy pace walked along the steep road whichled to the houses above. The afternoon was merging into evening, anda pleasant stillness was in the air. Menfolk working in their cottagegardens saluted him as he passed, and the occasional whiteness of a faceat the back of a window indicated an interest in his affairs on thepart of the fairer citizens of Seabridge. At the gate of the first ofan ancient row of cottages, conveniently situated within hail of TheGrapes, The Thorn, and The Swan, he paused, and walking up the trim-keptgarden path, knocked at the door. 

It was opened by a stranger--a woman of early middle age, dressed in astyle to which the inhabitants of the row had long been unaccustomed. The practised eye of the skipper at once classed her as "rathergood-looking. "

"Captain Barber's in the garden, " she said, smiling. "He wasn'texpecting you'd be up just yet. "

The skipper followed her in silence, and, after shaking hands with theshort, red-faced man with the grey beard and shaven lip, who sat with apaper on his knee, stood watching in blank astonishment as the strangercarefully filled the old man's pipe and gave him a light. Their eyesmeeting, the uncle winked solemnly at the nephew. 

"This is Mrs. Church, " he said, slowly; "this is my nevy, Cap'n FredFlower. "

"I should have known him anywhere, " declared Mrs. Church; "the likenessis wonderful. "

Captain Barber chuckled--loudly enough for them to hear. 

"Me and Mrs. Church have been watering the flowers, " he said. "Give 'ema good watering, we have. "

"I never really knew before what a lot there was in watering, " admittedMrs. Church. 

"There's a right way and a wrong in doing everything, " said CaptainBarber, severely; "most people chooses the wrong. If it wasn't so, thoseof us who have got on, wouldn't have got on. "

"That's very true, " said Mrs. Church, shaking her head. 

"And them as haven't got on would have got on, " said the philosopher, following up his train of thought. "If you would just go out and getthem things I spoke to you about, Mrs. Church, we shall be all right. "

"Who is it?" enquired the nephew, as soon as she had gone. 

Captain Barber looked stealthily round, and, for the second time thatevening, winked at his nephew. 

"A visitor?" said Flower. 

Captain Barber winked again, and then laughed into his pipe until itgurgled. 

"It's a little plan o' mine. " he said, when he had become a little morecomposed. "She's my housekeeper. "

"Housekeeper?" repeated the astonished Flower. 

"Bein' all alone here, " said Uncle Barber, "I think a lot. I sit an'think until I get an idea. It comes quite sudden like, and I wonder Inever thought of it before. "

"But what did you want a housekeeper for?" enquired his nephew. "Where'sLizzie?"

"I got rid of her, " said Captain Barber. "I got a housekeeper because Ithought it was time you got married. Now do you see?"

"No, " said Flower, shortly. 

Captain Barber laughed softly and, relighting his pipe which had goneout, leaned back in his chair and again winked at his indignant nephew. 

"Mrs. Banks, " he said, suggestively. 

His nephew gazed at him blankly. 

Captain Barber, sighing good-naturedly at his dulness, turned his chaira bit and explained the situation. 

"Mrs. Banks won't let you and Elizabeth marry till she's gone, " said he. 

His nephew nodded. 

"I've been at her ever so long, " said the other, "but she's firm. NowI'm trying artfulness. I've got a good-looking housekeeper--she's thepick o' seventeen what all come here Wednesday morning--and I'm makinglove to her. "

"Making love to her, " shouted his nephew, gazing wildly at the venerablebald head with the smoking-cap resting on one huge ear. 

"Making love to her, " repeated Captain Barber, with a satisfied air. "What'll happen? Mrs. Banks, to prevent me getting married, as shethinks, will give her consent to you an' Elizabeth getting tied up. "

"Haven't you ever heard of breach of promise cases?" asked his nephew, aghast. 

"There's no fear o' that, " said Captain Barber, confidently. "It's allright with Mrs. Church she's a widder. A widder ain't like a young girlshe knows you don't mean anything. "

It was useless to argue with such stupendous folly; Captain Flower triedanother tack. 

"And suppose Mrs. Church gets fond of you, " he said, gravely. "Itdoesn't seem right to trifle with a woman's affections like that. "

"I won't go too far, " said the lady-killer in the smoking-cap, reassuringly. 

"Elizabeth and her mother are still away, I suppose?" said Flower, aftera pause. 

His uncle nodded. 

"So, of course, you needn't do much love-making till they come back, "said his nephew; "it's waste of time, isn't it?"

"I'll just keep my hand in, " said Captain Barber, thoughtfully. "I can'tsay as I find it disagreeable. I was always one to take a little noticeof the sects. "

He got up to go indoors. "Never mind about them, " he said, as his nephewwas about to follow with the chair and his tobacco-jar; "Mrs. Churchlikes to do that herself, and she'd be disappointed if anybody else didit. "

His nephew followed him to the house in silence, listening later on witha gloomy feeling of alarm to the conversation at the supper-table. The_r�le_ of gooseberry was new to him, and when Mrs. Church got up fromthe table for the sole purpose of proving her contention that CaptainBarber looked better in his black velvet smoking-cap than the one he waswearing he was almost on the point of exceeding his duties. 

He took the mate into his confidence the next day, and asked him whathe thought of it. Fraser said that it was evidently in the blood, and, being pressed with some heat for an explanation, said that he meantCaptain Barber's blood. 

"It's bad, any way I look at it, " said Flower; "it may bring mattersbetween me and Elizabeth to a head, or it may end in my uncle marryingthe woman. "

"Very likely both, " said Fraser, cheerfully. "Is this Mrs. Churchgood-looking?"

"I can hardly say, " said Flower, pondering. 

"Well, good-looking enough for you to feel inclined to take any noticeof her?" asked the mate. 

"When you can talk seriously, " said the skipper, in great wrath, "I'llbe pleased to answer you. Just at present I don't feel in the sort oftemper to be made fun of. "

He walked off in dudgeon, and, until they were on their way to Londonagain, treated the mate with marked coldness. Then the necessity oftalking to somebody about his own troubles and his uncle's idiocy putthe two men on their old footing. In the quietness of the cabin, over asatisfying pipe, he planned out in a kindly and generous spirit careersfor both the ladies he was not going to marry. The only thing that waswanted to complete their happiness, and his, was that they should fallin with the measures proposed. 

CHAPTER IV. 

At No. 5 Liston Street, Poppy Tyrell sat at the open window of her roomreading The outside air was pleasant, despite the fact that Poplar isa somewhat crowded neighbourhood, and it was rendered more pleasant bycomparison with the atmosphere inside, which, from a warm, soft smellnot to be described by comparison, suggested washing. In the stone-pavedyard beneath the window, a small daughter of the house hung out garmentsof various hues and shapes, while inside, in the scullery, the masterof the house was doing the family washing with all the secrecy andtrepidation of one engaged in an unlawful task. The Wheeler family wasa large one, and the wash heavy, and besides misadventures to one ortwo garments, sorted out for further consideration, the small girl wasseverely critical about the colour, averring sharply that she was almostashamed to put them on the line. 

"They'll dry clean, " said her father, wiping his brow with the upperpart of his arm, the only part which was dry; "and if they don't we musttell your mother that the line came down. I'll show these to her now. "

He took up the wet clothes and, cautiously leaving the scullery, crossedthe passage to the parlour, where Mrs. Wheeler, a confirmed invalid, was lying on a ramshackle sofa, darning socks. Mr. Wheeler coughed toattract her attention, and with an apologetic expression of visage heldup a small, pink garment of the knickerbocker species, and prepared forthe worst. 

"They've never shrunk like that?" said Mrs. Wheeler, starting up. 

"They have, " said her husband, "all by itself, " he added, in hastyself-defence. 

"You've had it in the soda, " said Mrs. Wheeler, disregarding. 

"I've not, " said Mr. Wheeler, vehemently. "I've got the two tubs there, flannels in one without soda, the other things in the other with soda. It's bad stuff, that's what it is. I thought I'd show you. "

"It's management they want, " said Mrs. Wheeler, wearily; "it's the touchyou have to give 'em. I can't explain, but I know they wouldn't havegone like that if I'd done 'em. What's that you're hiding behind you?"

Thus attacked, Mr. Wheeler produced his other hand, and shaking out ablue and white shirt, showed how the blue had been wandering over thewhite territory, and how the white had apparently accepted a permanentoccupation. 

"What do you say to that?" he enquired, desperately. 

"You'd better ask Bob what he says, " said his wife, aghast; "you knowhow pertickler he is, too. I told you as plain as a woman could speak, not to boil that shirt. "

"Well, it can't be helped, " said Mr. Wheeler, with a philosophy he hopedhis son would imitate. "I wasn't brought up to the washing, Polly. "

"It's a sin to spoil good things like that, " said Mrs. Wheeler, fretfully. "Bob's quite the gentleman--he will buy such expensiveshirts. Take it away, I can't bear to look at it. "

Mr. Wheeler, considerably crestfallen, was about to obey, when he wasstartled by a knock at the door. 

"That's Captain Flower, I expect, " said his wife, hastily; "he's goingto take Poppy and Emma to a theatre to-night. Don't let him see you inthat state, Peter. "

But Mr. Wheeler was already fumbling at the strings of his apron, and, despairing of undoing it, broke the string, and pitched it with theother clothes under the sofa and hastily donned his coat. 

"Good-evening, " said Flower, as Mr. Wheeler opened the door; "this is mymate. "

"Glad to see you, sir, " said Mr. Wheeler. 

The mate made his acknowledgments, and having shaken hands, carefullywiped his down the leg of his trousers. 

"Moist hand you've got, Wheeler, " said Flower, who had been doing thesame thing. 

"Got some dye on 'em at the docks, " said Wheeler, glibly. "I've 'ad 'emin soak. "

Flower nodded, and after a brief exchange of courtesies with Mrs. Wheeler as he passed the door, led the way up the narrow staircase toMiss Tyrell's room. 

"I've brought him with me, so that he'll be company for Emma Wheeler, "said the skipper, as Fraser shook hands with her, "and you must looksharp if you want to get good seats. 

"I'm ready all but my hat and jacket, " said Poppy, "and Emma's in herroom getting ready, too. All the children are up there helping her. "

Fraser opened his eyes at such a toilet, and began secretly to wish thathe had paid more attention to his own. 

"I hope you're not shy?" said Miss Tyrell, who found his steadfast gazesomewhat embarrassing. 

Fraser shook his head. "No, I'm not shy, " he said, quietly. 

"Because Emma didn't know you were coming, " continued Miss Tyrell, "andshe's always shy. So you must be bold, you know. "

The mate nodded as confidently as he could. "Shyness has never beenone of my failings, " he said, nervously. 

Further conversation was rendered difficult, if not impossible, by onewhich now took place outside. It was conducted between a small Wheeleron the top of the stairs and Mrs. Wheeler in the parlour below. Thesubject was hairpins, an article in which it appeared Miss Wheeler waslamentably deficient, owing, it was suggested, to a weakness of Mrs. Wheeler's for picking up stray ones and putting them in her hair. Theconversation ended in Mrs. Wheeler, whose thin voice was heard hotlycombating these charges, parting with six, without prejudice; and a fewminutes later Miss Wheeler, somewhat flushed, entered the room and wasintroduced to the mate. 

"All ready?" enquired Flower, as Miss Tyrell drew on her gloves. 

They went downstairs in single file, the builder of the house havingleft no option in the matter, while the small Wheelers, breathing hardwith excitement, watched them over the balusters. Outside the house thetwo ladies paired off, leaving the two men to follow behind. 

The mate noticed, with a strong sense of his own unworthiness, thatthe two ladies seemed thoroughly engrossed in each other's company, andoblivious to all else. A suggestion from Flower that he should close upand take off Miss Wheeler, seemed to him to border upon audacity, but hemeekly followed Flower as that bold mariner ranged himself alongside thegirls, and taking two steps on the curb and three in the gutter, walkedalong for some time trying to think of something to say. 

"There ain't room for four abreast, " said Flower, who had been scrapingagainst the wall. "We'd better split up into twos. "

At the suggestion the ladies drifted apart, and Flower, taking MissTyrell's arm, left the mate behind with Miss Wheeler, nervouslywondering whether he ought to do the same. 

"I hope it won't rain, " he said, at last. 

"I hope not, " said Miss Wheeler, glancing up at a sky which wasabsolutely cloudless. 

"So bad for ladies' dresses, " continued the mate. 

"What is?" enquired Miss Wheeler, who had covered some distance sincethe last remark. 

"Rain, " said the mate, quite freshly. "I don't think we shall have any, though. "

Miss Wheeler whose life had been passed in a neighbourhood in whichthere was only one explanation for such conduct, concluded that he hadbeen drinking, and, closing her lips tightly, said no more until theyreached the theatre. 

"Oh, they're going in, " she said, quickly; "we shall get a bad seat. "

"Hurry up, " cried Flower, beckoning. 

"I'll pay, " whispered the mate. 

"No, I will, " said Flower. "Well, you pay for one and I'll pay for one, then. "

He pushed his way to the window and bought a couple of pit-stalls;the mate, who had not consulted him, bought upper-circles, and, with aglance at the ladies, pushed open the swing-doors. 

"Come on, " he said, excitedly; and seeing several people racing up thebroad stone stairs, he and Miss Tyrell raced with them. 

"Round this side, " he cried, hastily, as he gave up the tickets, and, followed by Miss Tyrell, quickly secured a couple of seats at the end ofthe front row. 

"Best seats in the house almost, " said Poppy, cheerfully. 

"Where are the others?" said Fraser, looking round. 

"Coming on behind, I suppose, " said Poppy glancing over her shoulder. 

"I'll change places when they arrive, " said the other, apologetically;"something's detained them, I should think. I hope they're not waitingfor us. "

He stood looking about him uneasily as the seats behind rapidly filled, and closely scanned their occupants, and then, leaving his hat on theseat, walked back in perplexity to the door. 

"Never mind, " said Miss Tyrell, quietly, as he came back. "I daresaythey'll find us. "

Fraser bought a programme and sat down, the brim of Miss Tyrell's hattouching his face as she bent to peruse it. With her small gloved fingershe pointed out the leading characters, and taking no notice of hisrestlessness, began to chat gaily about the plays she had seen, untila tuning of violins from the orchestra caused her to lean forward, herlips parted and her eyes beaming with anticipation. 

"I do hope the others have got good seats, " she said, softly, as theoverture finished; "that's everything, isn't it?"

"I hope so, " said Fraser. 

He leaned forward, excitedly. Not because the curtain was rising, butbecause he had just caught sight of a figure standing up in the centreof the pit-stalls. He had just time to call his companion's attentionto it when the figure, in deference to the threats and entreaties of thepeople behind, sat down and was lost in the crowd. 

"They _have_ got good seats, " said Miss Tyrell. "I'm so glad. What abeautiful scene. "

The mate, stifling his misgivings, gave himself up to the enjoyment ofthe situation, which in-eluded answering the breathless whispers of hisneighbour when she missed a sentence, and helping her to discover theidentity of the characters from the programme as they appeared. 

"I should like it all over again, " said Miss Tyrell, sitting back in herseat, as the curtain fell on the first act. 

Fraser agreed with her. He was closely watching the pit-stalls. In thegeneral movement on the part of the audience which followed the loweringof the curtain, the master of the _Foam_ was the first on his feet. 

"I'll go down and send him up, " said Fraser, rising. 

Miss Tyrell demurred, and revealed an unsuspected timidity of character. "I don't like being left here all alone, " she remarked. "Wait till theysee us. "

She spoke in the plural, for Miss Wheeler, who found the skipperexceedingly bad company, had also risen, and was scrutinising the housewith a gaze hardly less eager than his own. A suggestion of the matethat he should wave his handkerchief was promptly negatived by MissTyrell, on the ground that it would not be the correct thing to do inthe upper-circle, and they were still undiscovered when the curtain wentup for the second act, and strong and willing hands from behind thrustthe skipper back into his seat. 

"I expect you'll catch it, " said Miss Tyrell, softly, as the performancecame to an end; "we'd better go down and wait for them outside. I neverenjoyed a piece so much. "

The mate rose and mingled with the crowd, conscious of a littleoccasional clutch at his sleeve whenever other people threatened tocome between them. Outside the crowd dispersed slowly, and it was someminutes before they discovered a small but compact knot of two waitingfor them. 

"Where the--" began Flower. 

"I hope you enjoyed the performance, Captain Flower, " said Miss Tyrell, drawing herself up with some dignity. "I didn't know that I was supposedto look out for myself all the evening. If it hadn't been for Mr. FraserI should have been all alone. "

She looked hard at Miss Wheeler as she spoke, and the couple from thepit-stalls reddened with indignation at being so misunderstood. 

"I'm sure I didn't want him, " said Miss Wheeler, hastily. "Two or threetimes I thought there would have been a fight with the people behind. "

"Oh, it doesn't matter, " said Miss Tyrell, composedly. "Well, it's nogood standing here. We'd better get home. "

She walked off with the mate, leaving the couple behind, who realisedthat appearances were against them, to follow at their leisure. Conversation was mostly on her side, the mate being too much occupiedwith his defence to make any very long or very coherent replies. 

They reached Liston Street at last, and separated at the door, MissTyrell shaking hands with the skipper in a way which conveyed in thefullest possible manner her opinion of his behaviour that evening. Abright smile and a genial hand-shake were reserved for the mate. 

"And now, " said the incensed skipper, breathing deeply as the doorclosed and they walked up Liston Street, "what the deuce do you mean byit?"

"Mean by what?" demanded the mate, who, after much thought, had decidedto take a leaf out of Miss Tyrell's book. 

"Mean by leaving me in another part of the house with that Wheelergirl while you and my intended went off together?" growled Flowerferociously. 

"Well, I could only think you wanted it, " said Fraser, in a firm voice. 

"_What?_" demanded the other, hardly able to believe his ears

"I thought you wanted Miss Wheeler for number four, " said the mate, calmly. "You know what a chap you are, cap'n. "

His companion stopped and regarded him in speechless amaze, thenrealising a vocabulary to which Miss Wheeler had acted as a safety-valveall the evening, he turned up a side street and stamped his way back tothe _Foam_ alone. 

CHAPTER V. 

THE same day that Flower and his friends visited the theatre, CaptainBarber gave a small and select tea-party. The astonished Mrs. Banks hadreturned home with her daughter the day before to find the air full ofrumours about Captain Barber and his new housekeeper. They had beenwatched for hours at a time from upper back windows of houses in thesame row, and the professional opinion of the entire female element wasthat Mrs. Church could land her fish at any time she thought fit. 

"Old fools are the worst of fools, " said Mrs. Banks, tersely, asshe tied her bonnet strings; "the idea of Captain Barber thinking ofmarrying at his time of life. "

"Why shouldn't he?" enquired her daughter. 

"Why because he's promised to leave his property to Fred and you, ofcourse, " snapped the old lady; "if he marries that hussy it's preciouslittle you and Fred will get. "

"I expect it's mostly talk, " said her daughter calmly, as she closed thestreet door behind her indignant parent. "People used to talk about youand old Mr. Wilders, and there was nothing in it. He only used to comefor a glass of your ale. "

This reference to an admirer who had consumed several barrels of theliquor in question without losing his head, put the finishing touch tothe elder lady's wrath, and she walked the rest of the way in ominoussilence. 

Captain Barber received them in the elaborate velvet smoking-cap withthe gold tassel which had evoked such strong encomiums from Mrs. Church, and in a few well-chosen words--carefully rehearsed thatafternoon--presented his housekeeper. 

"Will you come up to my room and take your things off?" enquired Mrs. Church, returning the old lady's hostile stare with interest. 

"I'll take mine off down here, if Captain Barber doesn't mind, " saidthe latter, subsiding into a chair with a gasp. "Him and me's very oldfriends. "

She unfastened the strings of her bonnet, and, taking off that articleof attire, placed it in her lap while she unfastened her shawl. She thenheld both out to Mrs. Church, briefly exhorting her to be careful. 

"Oh, what a lovely bonnet, " said that lady, in false ecstasy. "What aperfect beauty! I've never seen anything like it before. Never!"

Captain Barber, smiling at the politeness of his housekeeper, wasalarmed and perplexed at the generous colour which suddenly filled theold lady's cheeks. 

"Mrs. Banks made it herself, " he said, "she's very clever at that sortof thing. "

"There, do you know I guessed as much, " said Mrs. Church, beaming;"directly I saw it, I said to myself: 'That was never made by amilliner. There's too much taste in the way the flowers are arranged. '"

Mrs. Banks looked at her daughter, in a mute appeal for help. 

"I'll take yours up, too, shall I?" said the amiable housekeeper, as Mrs. Banks, with an air of defying criticism, drew a cap from apaper-bag and put it on. 

"I'll take mine myself, please, " said Miss Banks, with coldness. 

"Oh, well, you may as well take them all then, " said Mrs. Church, putting the mother's bonnet and shawl in her arms. "I'll go and see thatthe kettle boils, " she said, briskly. 

She returned a minute or two later with the teapot, and setting chairs, took the head of the table. 

"And how's the leg?" enquired Captain Barber, misinterpreting Mrs. Banks' screwed-up face. 

"Which one?" asked Mrs. Banks, shortly. 

"The bad 'un, " said the captain. 

"They're both bad, " said Mrs. Banks more shortly than before, as shenoticed that Mrs. Church had got real lace in her cuffs and was pouringout the tea in full consciousness of the fact. 

"Dear, dear, " said the Captain sympathetically. 

"Swollen?" enquired Mrs. Church, anxiously. 

"Swelled right out of shape, " exclaimed Captain Barber, impressively;"like pillars almost they are. "

"Poor thing, " said Mrs. Church, in a voice which made Mrs. Banks itchto slap her. "I knew a lady once just the same, but _she_ was a drinkingwoman. "

Again Mrs. Banks at a loss for words, looked at her daughter forassistance. 

"Dear me, how dreadful it must be to know such people, " said Mrs. Banks, shivering. 

"Yes, " sighed the other. "It used to make me feel sorry for her--theywere utterly shapeless, you know. Horrid!"

"That's how Mrs. Banks' are, " said the Captain, nodding sagely. "Youlook 'ot, Mrs. Banks. Shall I open the winder a bit?"

"I'll thank you not to talk about me like that, Captain Barber, " saidMrs. Banks, the flowers on her hat trembling. 

"As you please, ma'am, " said Captain Barber, with a stateliness whichdeserved a better subject. "I was only repeating what Dr. Hodder told mein your presence. "

Mrs. Banks made no reply, but created a diversion by passing her cupup for more tea; her feelings, when Mrs. Church took off the lid of theteapot and poured in about a pint of water before helping her, belongingto that kind known as in-describable. 

"Water bewitched, and tea begrudged, " she said, trying to speakjocularly. 

"Well, the fourth cup never is very good, is it, " said Mrs. Church, apologetically. "I'll put some more tea in, so that your _next_ cup'llbe better. "

As a matter of fact it was Mrs. Banks' third cup, and she said so, Mrs. Church receiving the correction with a polite smile, more than tingedwith incredulity. 

"It's wonderful what a lot of tea is drunk, " said Captain Barber, impressively, looking round the table. 

"I've heard say it's like spirit drinking, " said Mrs. Church; "they sayit gets such a hold of people that they can't give it up. They're justslaves to it, and they like it brown and strong like brandy. "

Mrs. Banks, who had been making noble efforts, could contain herself nolonger. She put down the harmless beverage which had just been handed toher, and pushed her chair back from the table. 

"Are you speaking of me, young woman?" she asked, tremulous withindignation. 

"Oh, no, certainly not, " said Mrs. Church, in great distress. "I neverthought of such a thing. I was alluding to the people Captain Barber wastalking of--regular tea-drinkers, you know. "

"I know what you mean, ma'am, " said Mrs. Banks fiercely. 

"There, there, " said Captain Barber, ill-advisedly. 

"Don't you say 'there, there, ' to me, Captain Barber, because I won'thave it, " said the old lady, speaking with great rapidity; "if you thinkthat I'm going to sit here and be insulted by--by that woman, you'remistaken. "

"You're quite mistook, Mrs. Banks, " said the Captain, slowly. "I'veheard everything she said, and, where the insult comes in, I'm sure Idon't know. I don't think I'm wanting in common sense, ma'am. "

He patted the housekeeper's hand kindly, and, in full view of theindignant Mrs. Banks, she squeezed his in return and gazed at himaffectionately. There is nothing humourous to the ordinary person in ateacup, but Mrs. Banks, looking straight into hers, broke into a short, derisive laugh. 

"Anything the matter, ma'am?" enquired Cap-tain Barber, regarding hersomewhat severely. 

Mrs. Banks shook her head. "Only thoughts, " she said, mysteriously. 

It is difficult for a man to object to his visitors finding amusement intheir thoughts, or even to enquire too closely into the nature of them. Mrs. Banks, apparently realising this, laughed again with increasedacridity, and finally became so very amused that she shook in her chair. 

"I'm glad you're enjoying yourself, ma'am, " said Captain Barber, loftily. 

With a view, perhaps, of giving his guest further amusement he pattedthe housekeeper's hand again, whereupon Mrs. Banks' laughter ceased, andshe sat regarding Mrs. Church with a petrified stare, met by that ladywith a glance of haughty disdain. 

"S'pose we go into the garden a bit?" suggested Barber, uneasily. Thetwo ladies had eyed each other for three minutes without blinking, andhis own eyes were watering in sympathy. 

Mrs. Banks, secretly glad of the interruption, made one or two vagueremarks about going home, but after much persuasion, allowed him to leadher into the garden, the solemn Elizabeth bringing up in the rear with ahassock and a couple of cushions. 

"It's a new thing for you having a housekeeper, " observed Mrs. Banks, after her daughter had returned to the house to assist in washing up. 

"Yes, I wonder I never thought of it before, " said the artful Barber;"you wouldn't believe how comfortable it is. "

"I daresay, " said Mrs. Banks, grimly. 

"It's nice to have a woman about the house, " continued Captain Barber, slowly, "it makes it more homelike. A slip of a servant-gal ain't nogood at all. "

"How does Fred like it?" enquired Mrs. Banks. 

"My ideas are Fred's ideas, " said Uncle Barber, somewhat sharply. "WhatI like he has to like, naturally. "

"I was thinking of my darter, " said Mrs. Banks, smoothing down herapron majestically. "The arrangement was, I think, that when they were, married they was to live with you?"

Captain Barber nodded acquiescence. 

"Elizabeth would never live in a house with that woman, or any otherwoman, as housekeeper in it, " said the mother. 

"Well, she won't have to, " said the old man; "when they marry andElizabeth comes here, I sha'n't want a housekeeper--I shall get rid ofher. "

Mrs. Banks shifted in her chair, and gazed thoughtfully down the garden. "Of course my idea was for them to wait till I was gone, " she said atlength. 

"Just so, " replied the other, "and more's the pity. "

"But Elizabeth's getting on and I don't seem to go, " continued the oldlady, as though mildly surprised at Providence for its unaccountabledelay; "and there's Fred, he ain't getting younger. "

Captain Barber puffed at his pipe. "None of us are, " he said profoundly. 

"And Fred might get tired of waiting, " said Mrs. Banks, ruminating. 

"He'd better let me hear him, " said the uncle, fiercely; "leastways, o'course, he's tired o' waiting in a sense. He'd like to be married. "

"There's young Gibson, " said Mrs. Banks in a thrilling whisper. 

"What about him?" enquired Barber, surprised at her manner. 

"Comes round after Elizabeth, " said Mrs. Banks. 

"No!" said Captain Barber, blankly. 

Mrs. Banks pursed up her lips and nodded darkly. 

"Pretends to come and see me, " said Mrs. Banks; "always coming inbringing something new for my legs. The worst of it is he ain't alwayscareful what he brings. He brought some new-fangled stuff in a bottlelast week, and the agonies I suffered after rubbing it in wouldn't bebelieved. "

"It's like his impudence, " said the Captain. 

"I've been thinking, " said Mrs. Banks, nodding her head with someanimation, "of giving Fred a little surprise. What do you think he'd doif I said they might marry this autumn?"

"Jump out of his skin with joy, " said Captain Barber, with conviction. "Mrs. Banks, the pleasure you've given me this day is more than I cansay. "

"And they'll live with you just the same?" said Mrs. Banks. 

"Certainly, " said the Captain. 

"They'll only be a few doors off then, " said Mrs. Banks, "and it'll benice for you to have a woman in the house to look after you. "

Captain. Barber nodded softly. "It's what I've been wanting for years, "he said, heartily. 

"And that huss--husskeeper, " said Mrs. Banks, correcting herself--"willgo?"

"O' course, " said Captain Barber. "I sha'n't want no housekeeper with mynevy's wife in the house. You've told Elizabeth, I s'pose?"

"Not yet, " said Mrs. Banks, who as a matter of fact had been influencedby the proceedings of that afternoon to bring to a head a step she hadhitherto only vaguely contemplated. 

Elizabeth, who came down the garden again, a little later, accompaniedby Mrs. Church, received the news stolidly. A feeling of regret, thatthe attention of the devoted Gibson must now cease, certainly occurredto her, but she never thought of contesting the arrangements made forher, and accepted the situation with a placidity which the more ardentBarber was utterly unable to understand. 

"Fred'll stand on his. 'ed with joy, " the unsophisticated marinerdeclared, with enthusiasm. 

"He'll go singing about the house, " declared Mrs. Church. 

Mrs. Banks regarded her unfavourably. 

"He's never _said_ much, " continued Uncle Barber, in an exalted strain;"that ain't Fred's way. He takes arter me; he's one o' the quiet ones, one o' the still deep waters what always feels the most. When I tell 'imhis face'll just light up with joy. "

"It'll be nice for you, too, " said Mrs. Banks, with a side glance atthe housekeeper; "you'll have somebody to look after you and take aninterest in you, and strangers can't be expected to do that even ifthey're _nice_. "

"We shall have him standing on his head, too, " said Mrs. Church, with abright smile; "you're turning everything upside down, Mrs. Banks. "

"There's things as wants altering, " said the old lady, with emphasis. "There's few things as I don't see, ma'am. "

"I hope you'll live to see a lot more, " said Mrs. Church, piously. 

"She'll live to be ninety, " said Captain Barber, heartily. 

"Oh, _easily_, " said Mrs. Church. 

Captain Barber regarding his old friend saw her face suffused with awrath for which he was utterly unable to account. With a hazy idea thatsomething had passed which he had not heard, he caused a diversion bysending Mrs. Church indoors for a pack of cards, and solemnly celebratedthe occasion with a game of whist, at which Mrs. Church, in partnershipwith Mrs. Banks, either through sheer wilfulness or absence of mind, contrived to lose every game. 

CHAPTER VI. 

As a result of the mate's ill-behaviour at the theatre, Captain FredFlower treated him with an air of chilly disdain, ignoring, as far ascircumstances would permit, the fact that such a person existed. So faras the social side went the mate made no demur, but it was a differentmatter when the skipper acted as though he were not present at thebreakfast table, and being chary of interfering with the other'sself-imposed vow of silence, he rescued a couple of rashers from hisplate and put them on his own. Also, in order to put matters on amore equal footing, he drank three cups of coffee in rapid succession, leaving the skipper to his own reflections and an empty coffee-pot. In this sociable fashion they got through most of the day, the skipperrefraining from speech until late in the afternoon, when, both being atwork in the hold, the mate let a heavy case fall on his foot. 

"I thought you'd get it, " he said, calmly, as Flower paused to takebreath; "it wasn't my fault. "

"Whose was it, then?" roared Flower, who had got his boot off and wastrying various tender experiments with his toe to see whether it wasbroken or not. 

"If you hadn't been holding your head in the air and pretending that Iwasn't here, it wouldn't have happened, " said Fraser, with some heat. 

The skipper turned his back on him, and meeting a look of enquiringsolicitude from Joe, applied to him for advice. 

"What had I better do with it?" he asked. 

"Well, if it was my toe, sir, " said Joe regarding it respectfully, "Ishould stick it in a basin o' boiling water and keep it there as long asI could bear it. "

"You're a fool, " said the skipper, briefly. "What do you think of it, Ben? I don't think it's broken. "

The old seaman scratched his head. "Well, if it belonged to me, " hesaid, slowly, "there's some ointment down the fo'c's'le which the cook'ad for sore eyes. I should just put some o' that on. It looks goodstuff. "

The skipper, summarising the chief points in Ben's character, which, owing principally to the poverty of the English language, bore aremarkable likeness to Joe's and the mate's, took his sock and boot inhis hand, and gaining the deck limped painfully to the cabin. 

The foot was so painful after tea that he could hardly bear hisslipper on, and he went ashore in his working clothes to the chemist's, preparatory to fitting himself out for Liston Street. The chemist, leaning over the counter, was inclined to take a serious view of it, andshaking his head with much solemnity, prepared a bottle of medicine, abottle of lotion and a box of ointment. 

"Let me see it again as soon as you've finished the medicine, " he said, as he handed the articles over the counter. 

Flower promised, and hobbling towards the door turned into the street. Then the amiable air which he had worn in the shop gave way to one ofunseemly hauteur as he saw Fraser hurrying towards him. 

"Look out, " cried the latter, warningly. 

The skipper favoured him with a baleful stare. 

"All right, " said the mate, angrily, "go your own way, then. Don't cometo me when you get into trouble, that's all. "

Flower passed on his way in silence. Then a thought struck him and hestopped suddenly. 

"You wish to speak to me?" he asked, stiffly. 

"No, I'm damned if I do, " said the mate, sticking his hands into hispockets. 

"If you wish to speak to me, " said the other, trying in vain to conceala trace of anxiety in his voice, "it's my duty to listen. What were yougoing to say just now?"

The mate eyed him wrathfully, but as the pathetic figure with itswounded toe and cargo of remedies stood there waiting for him to speak, he suddenly softened. 

"Don't go back, old man, " he said, kindly, "_she's_ aboard. "

Eighteen pennyworth of mixture, to be taken thrice daily fromtablespoons, spilled over the curb, and the skipper, thrusting the otherpackets mechanically into his pockets, disappeared hurriedly around thecorner. 

"It's no use finding fault with me, " said Fraser, quickly, as he steppedalong beside him, "so don't try it. They came down into the cabin beforeI knew they were aboard, even. "

"They?" repeated the distressed Flower. "Who's they?"

"The young woman that came before and a stout woman with a little darkmoustache and earrings. They're going to wait until you come back to askyou a few questions about Mr. Robinson. They've been asking me a few. I've locked the door of your state-room and here's the key. "

Flower pocketed it and, after a little deliberation thanked him. 

"I did the best I could for you, " said the other, with a touch ofseverity. "If I'd treated you as some men would have done, I should havejust let you walk straight into the trap. "

Flower gave an apologetic cough. "I've had a lot of worry lately, Jack, "he said, humbly; "come in and have something. Perhaps it will clear myhead a bit. "

"I told 'em you wouldn't be back till twelve at least, " said the mate, as Flower rapidly diagnosed his complaint and ordered whisky, "perhapsnot then, and that when you did turn up you'd sure to be the worsefor liquor. The old lady said she'd wait all night for the pleasure ofseeing your bonny face, and as for you being drunk, she said she don'tsuppose there's a woman in London that has had more experience withdrunken men than she has. "

"Let this be a warning to you, Jack, " said the skipper, solemnly, as hedrained his glass and put it thoughtfully on the counter. 

"Don't you trouble about me, " said Fraser; "you've got all you can doto look after yourself. I've come out to look for a policeman; at least, that's what I told them. "

"All the police in the world couldn't do me any good, " sighed Flower. "Poppy's got tickets for a concert to-night, and I was going with her. Ican't go like this. "

"Well, what are you going to do?" enquired the other. 

Flower shook his head and pondered. "You go back and get rid of them thebest way you can, " he said, at length, "but whatever you do, don't havea scene. I'll stay here till you come and tell me the coast is clear. "

"And suppose it don't clear?" said Fraser. 

"Then I'll pick you up at Greenwich in the morning, " said Flower. 

"And suppose they're still aboard?" said Fraser. 

"I won't suppose any such thing, " said the other, hotly; "if you can'tget rid of two women between now and three in the morning, you're notmuch of a mate. If they catch me I'm ruined, and you'll be responsiblefor it. "

The mate, staring at him blankly, opened his mouth to reply, but beingutterly unable to think of anything adequate to the occasion, took uphis glass instead, and, drinking off the contents, turned to the door. He stood for a moment at the threshold gazing at Flower as though he hadjust discovered points about him which had hitherto escaped his notice, and then made his way back to the wharf. 

"They're still down below, sir, " said Joe, softly, as he stepped aboard, "and making as free and as comfortable as though they're going to stay amonth. "

Fraser shrugged his shoulders and went below. The appearance of theladies amply confirmed Joe's remark. 

"Never can find one when you want him, can you?" said the elder lady, inplayful allusion to the police. 

"Well, I altered my mind, " said Fraser, amiably, "I don't like treatingladies roughly, but if the cap'n comes on board and finds you here it'llbe bad for me, that's all. "

"What time do you expect him?" enquired Miss Tipping. 

"Not before we sail at three in the morning. " said the mate, glibly;"perhaps not then. I often have to take the ship out without him. He'sbeen away six weeks at a stretch before now. "

"Well, we'll stay here till he does come, " said the elder lady. "I'llhave his cabin, and my step-daughter'll have to put up with your bed. "

"If you're not gone by the time we start, I shall have to have you putoff, " said Fraser. 

"Those of us who live longest'll see the most, " said Mrs. Tipping, calmly. 

An hour or two passed, the mate sitting smoking with a philosophy whichhe hoped the waiting mariner at the "Admiral Cochrane" would be able toimitate. He lit the lamp at last, and going on deck, ordered the cook toprepare supper. 

Mother and daughter, with feelings of gratitude, against which theyfought strongly, noticed that the table was laid for three, and a littlelater, in a somewhat awkward fashion, they all sat down to the mealtogether. 

"Very good beef, " said Mrs. Tipping, politely. 

"Very nice, " said her daughter, who was ex-changing glances with themate. "I suppose you're very comfortable here, Mr. Fraser?"

The mate sighed. "It's all right when the old man's away, " he said, deceitfully. "He's got a dreadful temper. "

"I hope you didn't get into trouble through _my_ coming aboard the othernight, " said Miss Tipping, softly. 

"Don't say anything about it, " replied the mate, eyeing her admiringly. "I'd do more than that for you, if I could. "

Miss Tipping, catching her mother's eye, bestowed upon her a glance ofcomplacent triumph. 

"You don't mind us coming down here, do you?" she said, languishingly. 

"I wish you'd live here, " said the unscrupulous Fraser; "but of course Iknow you only come here to try and see that fellow Robinson, " he added, gloomily. 

"I like to see you, too, " was the reply. "I like you very much, as afriend. "

The mate in a melancholy voice thanked her, and to the great annoyanceof the cook, who had received strict orders from the forecastle tolisten as much as he could, sat in silence while the table was cleared. 

"What do you say to a hand at cards?" he said, after the cook hadfinally left the cabin. 

"Three-handed cribbage, " said Mrs. Tipping, quickly; "it's the only gameworth playing. "

No objection being raised, the masterful lady drew closer to the table, and concentrating energies of no mean order on the game, successfullyplayed hands of unvarying goodness, aided by a method of pegging whichmight perhaps be best described as dot and carry one. 

"You haven't seen anything of this Mr. Robinson since you were herelast, I suppose?" said Fraser, noting with satisfaction that both ladiesgave occasional uneasy glances at the clock. 

"No, an' not likely to, " said Mrs. Tipping; "fifteen two, fifteen four, fifteen six, and a pair's eight. "

"Where's the fifteen six?" enquired Fraser, glancing oven

"Eight and seven, " said the lady, pitching the cards with the others andbeginning to shuffle for the next deal. 

"It's very strange behaviour, " said the mate; "Robinson, I mean. Do youthink he's dead?"

"No, I don't, " said Mrs. Tipping, briefly. "Where's that captain ofyours?"

Fraser, whose anxiety was becoming too much for his play, leaned overthe table as though about to speak, and then, apparently thinking betterof it, went on with the game. 

"Eh?" said Mrs. Tipping, putting her cards face downwards on the tableand catching his eye. "Where?"

"O, nowhere, " said Fraser, awkwardly. "I don't want to be dragged intothis, you know. It isn't my business. "

"If you know where he is, why can't you tell us?" asked Mrs. Tipping, softly. "There's no harm in that. "

"What's the good?" enquired Fraser, in a low voice; "when you've seenthe old man you won't be any forwarder--he wouldn't tell you anythingeven if he knew it. "

"Well, we'd like to see him, " said Mrs. Tipping, after a pause. 

"You see, you put me in a difficulty, " said Fraser; "if the skipperdoesn't come aboard, you're going with us, I understand?"

Mrs. Tipping nodded. "Exactly, " she said, sharply. 

"That'll get me into trouble, if anything will, " said the mate, gloomily. "On the other hand, if I tell you where he is now, that'll getme into trouble, too. "

He sat back and drummed on the table with his fingers. "Well, I'll riskit, " he said, at length; "you'll find him at 17, Beaufort Street, Bow. "

The younger woman sprang excitedly to her feet, but Mrs. Tipping, eyeingthe young man with a pair of shrewd, small eyes, kept her seat. 

"And while we're going, how do we know the capt'n won't come back and gooff with the ship?" she enquired. 

Fraser hesitated. "Well, I'll come with you, if you like, " he said, slowly. 

"And suppose they go away and leave you, behind?" objected Mrs. Tipping. 

"Oh, well, you'd better stay then, " said the mate, wearily, "unless wetake a couple of the hands with us. How would that suit you? They can'tsail with half a crew. "

Mrs. Tipping, who was by no means as anxious for a sea voyage as shetried to make out, carefully pondered the situation. "I'm going to takean arm of each of 'em and Matilda'll take yours, " she said, at length. 

"As you please, " said Fraser, and in this way the procession actuallystarted up the wharf, and looking back indignantly over its shoulder sawthe watchman and Ben giving way to the most unseemly mirth, while thecook capered joyously behind them. A belated cab was passing the gate asthey reached it, and in response to the mate's hail pulled sharply up. 

Mrs. Tipping, pushing her captives in first, stepped heavily into thecab followed by her daughter, while the mate, after a brief discussion, clambered onto the box. 

"Go on, " he said, nodding. 

"Wot, ain't the rest of you comin'?" enquired the cabman, eyeing thecrowd at the gate, in pained surprise. 

"No. 17, Beaufort Street, Bow, " said Mrs. Tipping, distinctly, as sheput her head out of the window. 

"You could sit on 'er lap, " continued the cabman, appealingly. 

No reply being vouchsafed to this suggestion, he wrapped himself upin various rugs and then sat down suddenly before they could unwindthemselves. Then, with a compassionate "click" to his horse, startedup the road. Except for a few chance wayfarers and an occasionalcoffee-stall, the main streets were deserted, but they were noisycompared with Beaufort Street. Every house was in absolute darkness asthe cab, with instinctive deference to slumber, crawled slowly up anddown looking for No. 17. 

It stopped at last, and the mate, springing down, opened the door, andhanding out the ladies, led the way up a flight of steps to the streetdoor. 

"Perhaps you won't mind knocking, " he said to Mrs. Tipping, "and don'tforget to tell the cap'n I've done this to oblige you because youinsisted upon it. "

Mrs. Tipping, seizing the knocker, knocked loud and long, and after ashort interval repeated the performance. Somebody was heard stirringupstairs, and a deep voice cried out that it was coming, andperemptorily requested them to cease knocking. 

"That's not Flower's voice, " said Fraser. 

"Not loud enough, " said Miss Tipping. 

The bolts were drawn back loudly and the chain grated; then the doorwas flung open, and a big, red-whiskered man, blinking behind a candle, gruffly enquired what they meant by it. 

"Come inside, " said Mrs. Tipping to her following. 

"Ain't you come to the wrong house?" demanded the red-whiskered man, borne slowly back by numbers. 

"I don't think so, " said Mrs. Tipping, suavely; "I want to see CaptainFlower. "

"Well, you've come to the wrong house, " said the red-whiskered man, shortly, "there's no such name here. "

"Think, " said Mrs. Tipping. 

The red-whiskered man waved the candle to and fro until the passage wasflecked with tallow. 

"Go away directly, " he roared; "how dare you come disturbing people likethis?"

"You may just as well be pleasant over it, " said Mrs. Tipping, severely;"because we sha'n't go away until we _have_ seen him. After all, it'sgot nothing to do with you. "

"We don't want anything to say to you, " affirmed her daughter. 

"Will--you--get--out--of--my--house?" demanded the owner, wildly. 

"When we've seen Capt'n Flower, " said Mrs. Tipping, calmly, "and not amoment before. We don't mind your getting in a temper, not a bit. Youcan't frighten us. "

The frenzied and reckless reply of the red-whiskered man was drowned inthe violent slamming of the street-door, and he found himself alone withthe ladies. There was a yell of triumph outside, and the sounds of ahurried scramble down the steps. Mrs. Tipping, fumbling wildly at thecatch of the door, opened it just in time to see the cabman, in reply tothe urgent entreaties of the mate, frantically lashing his horse up theroad. 

"So far, so good, " murmured the mate, as he glanced over his shoulder atthe little group posing on the steps. "I've done the best I could, butI suppose there'll be a row. "

The watchman, with the remainder of the crew, in various attitudesof expectant curiosity, were waiting to receive them at the wharf. Acuriosity which increased in intensity as the mate, slamming the gate, put the big bar across and turned to the watchman. 

"Don't open that to anybody till we're off, " he said, sharply. "Cap'nFlower has not turned up yet, I suppose?"

"No, sir, " said Ben. 

They went aboard the schooner again, and the mate, remaining on deck, listened anxiously for the return of the redoubtable Mrs. Tipping, occasionally glancing over the side in expectation of being boarded fromthe neighbouring stairs; but with the exception of a false alarm causedby two maddened seamen unable to obtain admittance, and preferringinsulting charges of somnolency against the watchman, the time passedquietly until high water. With the schooner in midstream slowly pickingher way through the traffic, any twinges of remorse that he might havehad for the way he had treated two helpless women left him, and he beganto feel with his absent commander some of the charm which springs fromsuccessful wrong-doing. 

CHAPTER VII. 

He brought up off Greenwich in the cold grey of the breaking day. Craftof all shapes and sizes were passing up and down, but he looked in vainfor any sign of the skipper. It was galling to him as a seaman to staythere with the wind blowing freshly down the river; but over an hourelapsed before a yell from Tim, who was leaning over the bows, calledhis attention to a waterman's skiff, in the stern of which sat apassenger of somewhat dejected appearance. He had the air of a manwho had been up all night, and in place of returning the hearty andsignificant greeting of the mate, sat down in an exhausted fashion onthe cabin skylight, and eyed him in stony silence until they were underway again. 

"Well, " he said at length, ungraciously. 

Chilled by his manner, Fraser, in place of the dramatic fashion in whichhe had intended to relate the events of the preceding night, told himin a few curt sentences what had occurred. "And you can finish thisbusiness for yourself, " he concluded, warmly; "I've had enough of it. "

"You've made a pretty mess of it, " groaned the other; "there'll be afine set-out now. Why couldn't you coax 'em away? That's what I wantedyou to do. That's what I told you to do. "

"Well, you'll have plenty of opportunities of coaxing yourself so far asI can see, " retorted Fraser, grimly. "Then you'll see how it works. Itwas the only way of getting rid of them. "

"You ought to have sent round to me and let me know what you weredoing, " said Flower. "I sat in that blamed pub till they turned me outat twelve, expecting you every minute. I'd only threepence left by then, and I crossed the water with that, and then I had to shuffle along toGreenwich as best I could with a bad foot. What'll be the end of it all, I don't know. "

"Well, you're all right at present, " said Fraser, glancing round;"rather different to what you'd have been if those two women had come toIpswich and seen Cap'n Barber. "

The other sat for a long time in thought. "I'll lay up for a few weekswith this foot, " he said, slowly, "and you'll have to tell the Tippingfamily that I've changed into another trade. What with the worry I'vehad lately, I shall be glad of a rest. "

He made his way below, and turning in slept soundly after his fatigueuntil the cook aroused him a few hours later with the information thatbreakfast was ready. 

A wash and a change, together with a good breakfast, effected as muchchange in his spirits as in his appearance. Refreshed in mind and body, he slowly paced the deck, his chest expanding as he sniffed the freshair, and his soul, encouraged by the dangers he had already passedthrough, bracing itself for fresh encounters. 

"I 'ope the foot is goin' on well, sir, " said Tim, breaking in upon hismeditations, respectfully. 

"Much easier this morning, " said the skipper, amiably. 

Tim, who was lending the cook a hand, went back into the galley toponder. As a result of a heated debate in the fo'c's'le, where the lastnight's proceedings and the mysterious appearance of the skipper offGreenwich had caused a great sensation, they had drawn lots to decidewho was to bell the cat, and Tim had won or lost according as thesubject might be viewed. 

"You don't want to walk about on it much, sir, " he said, thrusting hishead out again. 

The skipper nodded. 

"I was alarmed last night, " said Tim. "We was all alarmed, " he added, hastily, in order that the others might stand in with the risk, "thinking that perhaps you'd walked too far and couldn't get back. "

The master of the _Foam_ looked at him, but made no reply, and Tim'shead was slowly withdrawn. The crew, who had been gazing over the sidewith their ears at the utmost tension, gave him five minutes' grace andthen, the skipper having gone aft again, walked up to the galley. 

"I've done all I could, " said the wretched youth. 

"Done all ye could?" said Joe, derisively, "why you ain't done nothin'yet. "

"I can't say anything more, " said Tim. "I dassent. I ain't got yourpluck, Joe. "

"Pluck be damned!" said the seaman, fiercely; "why there was a chap Iknew once, shipwrecked he was, and had to take to the boats. When thegrub give out they drew lots to see who should be killed and eaten. Helost. Did 'e back out of it? Not a bit of it; 'e was a man, an' 'e shook'ands with 'em afore they ate 'im and wished 'em luck. "

"Well, you can kill and eat me if that's what you want, " said Tim, desperately. "I'd sooner 'ave that. "

"Mind you, " said Joe, "till you've arsked them questions and beenanswered satisfactorily--none of us'll 'ave anything to do with you, besides which I'll give you such a licking as you've never 'ad before. "

He strolled off with Ben and the cook, as the skipper came towards themagain, and sat down in the bows. Tim, sore afraid of his shipmates' con. Tempt, tried again. 

"I wanted to ask your pardon in case I done wrong last night, sir, " hesaid, humbly. 

"All right, it's granted, " replied the other, walking away. 

Tim raised his eyes to heaven, and then lowering them, looked even morebeseechingly at his comrades. 

"Go on, " said Ben, shaping the words only with his mouth. 

"I don't know, sir, whether you know what I was alloodin' to just now, "said Tim, in trembling accents, as the skipper came within earshotagain. "I'm a-referring to a cab ride. "

"And I told you that I've forgiven you, " said Flower, sternly, "forgivenyou freely--all of you. "

"It's a relief to my mind, sir, " faltered the youth, staring. 

"Don't mix yourself up in my business again, that's all, " said theskipper; "you mightn't get off so easy next time. "

"It's been worrying me ever since, sir, " persisted Tim, who was halffainting. "I've been wondering whether I ought to have answered themladies' questions, and told 'em what I did tell 'em. "

The skipper swung round hastily and confronted him. "Told them?" hestuttered, "told them what?"

"I 'ardly remember, sir, " said Tim, alarmed at his manner. "Wot with thesuddenness o' the thing, an' the luckshury o' riding in a cab, my 'eadwas in a whirl. "

"What did they ask you?" demanded the shipper. 

"They asked me what Cap'n Flower was like an' where 'e lived, " said Tim, "an' they asked me whether I knew a Mr. Robinson. "

Captain Flower, his eyes blazing, waited. 

"I said I 'adn't got the pleasure o' Mr. Robinson's acquaintance, " saidTim, with a grand air. "I was just goin' to tell 'em about you when Joe'ere gave me a pinch. "

"Well?" enquired the skipper, stamping with impatience. 

"I pinched 'im back agin, " said Tim, smiling tenderly at thereminiscence. 

"Tim's a fool, sir, " said Joe, suddenly, as the overwrought skipper madea move towards the galley. "'E didn't seem to know wot 'e was a sayin'of, so I up and told 'em all about you. "

"You did, did you? Damn you, " said Flower, bitterly. 

"In answer to their questions, sir, " said Joe, "I told 'em you was abald-headed chap, marked with the small-pox, and I said when you was at'ome, which was seldom, you lived at Aberdeen. "

The skipper stepped towards him and laid his hand affectionately on hisshoulder. "You ought to have been an admiral, Joe, " he said, gratefully, without intending any slur on a noble profession. 

"I also told George, the watchman, to tell 'em the same thing, if theycame round again worrying, " said Joe, proudly. 

The skipper patted him on the shoulder again. 

"One o' these days, Joe, " he remarked, "you shall know all about thislittle affair; for the present it's enough to tell you that a certainunfortunate young female has took a fancy to a friend o' mine namedRobinson, but it's very important, for Robinson's sake, that sheshouldn't see me or get to know anything about me. Do you understand?"

"Perfectly, " said Joe, sagely. 

His countenance was calm and composed, but the cook's forehead hadwrinkled itself into his hair in a strong brain effort, while Ben waslooking for light on the deck, and not finding it. Flower, as a signthat the conversation was now ended, walked aft again, and taking thewheel from the mate, thoughtfully suggested that he should go below andturn in for five minutes. 

"I'll get through this all right, after all, " he said, comfortably. "I'lllay up at Seabridge for a week or two, and after that I'll get off theschooner at Greenwich for a bit and let you take her up to London. ThenI'll write a letter in the name of Robinson and send it to a man I knowin New York to post from there to Miss Tipping. "

His spirits rose and he slapped Fraser heartily on the back. "Thatdisposes of one, " he said, cheerily. "Lor', in years to come how I shalllook back and laugh over all this!"

"Yes, I think it'll be some time before you do any laughing to speakof, " said Fraser. 

"Ah, you always look on the dark side of things, " said Flower, briskly. 

"Of course, as things are, you're going to marry Miss Banks, " saidFraser, slowly. 

"No, I'm not, " said the other, cheerfully; "it strikes me there's plentyof time before that will come to a head, and that gives me time to turnround. I don't think she's any more anxious for it than I am. "

"But suppose it does come to a head, " persisted Fraser, "what are yougoing to do?"

"I shall find a way out of it, " said the skipper, confidently. "Meantime, just as an exercise for your wits, you might try and puzzleout what would be the best thing to do in such a case. "

His good spirits lasted all the way to Seabridge, and, the schoonerberthed, he went cheerfully off home. It was early afternoon when hearrived, and, Captain Barber being out, he had a comfortable _t�te �t�te_ with Mrs. Church, in which he was able to dilate pretty largelyupon the injury to his foot. Captain Barber did not return until the teawas set, and then shaking hands with his nephew, took a seat opposite, and in a manner more than unusually boisterous, kept up a longconversation. 

It was a matter of surprise to Flower that, though the talk was by nomeans of a sorrowful nature, Mrs. Church on three separate occasionsrose from the table and left the room with her handkerchief to her eyes. At such times his uncle's ideas forsook him, and he broke off not onlyin the middle of a sentence, but even in the middle of a word. At thethird time Flower caught his eye, and with a dumb jerk of his headtoward the door enquired what it all meant. 

"Tell you presently, " said his uncle, in a frightened whisper, "Hush!Don't take no notice of it. Not a word. "

"What is it?" persisted Flower. 

Captain Barber gave a hurried glance towards the door and then leanedover the table "Broken 'art, " he whispered, sorrowfully. 

Flower whistled, and, full of the visions which this communicationopened up, neglected to join in the artificial mirth which his uncle wasendeavouring to provoke upon the housekeeper's return. Finally he workedup a little mirth on his own account, and after glancing from his uncleto the housekeeper, and from the housekeeper back to his uncle again, smothered his face in his handkerchief and rushed from the room. 

"Bit on a bad tooth, " he said, untruthfully, when he came back. 

Captain Barber eyed him fiercely, but Mrs. Church regarded him withcompassionate interest, and, having got the conversation upon such asafe subject, kept it there until the meal was finished. 

"What's it all about?" enquired Flower, as, tea finished, Captain Barbercarried his chair to the extreme end of the garden and beckoned hisnephew to do likewise. 

"You're the cause of it, " said Captain Barber, severely. 

"Me?" said Flower, in surprise. 

"You know that little plan I told you of when you was down here?" saidthe other. 

His nephew nodded. 

"It came off, " groaned Captain Barber. "I've got news for you as'll makeyou dance for joy. "

"I've got a bad foot, " said Flower, paling. 

"Never mind about your foot, " said his uncle, regarding him fixedly. "Your banns are up. "

"Up! Up where?" gasped Flower. 

"Why--in the church, " said the other, staring at him; "where do youthink? I got the old lady's consent day before yesterday, and had 'emput up at once. "

"Is she dead, then?" enquired his nephew, in a voice the hollowness ofwhich befitted the question. 

"How the devil could she be?" returned his uncle, staring at him. 

"No, I didn't think of that, " said Flower; "of course, she couldn't giveher consent, could she--not if she was dead, I mean. "

Captain Barber drew his chair back and looked at him. "His joy hasturned his brain, " he said, with conviction. 

"No, it's my foot, " said Flower, rallying. "I've had no sleep with it. I'm delighted! Delighted! After all these years. "

"You owe it to me, " said his uncle, with a satisfied air. "I generallysee my way clear to what I want, and generally get it, too. I've playedMrs. Banks and Mrs. Church agin one another without their knowing it. Both 'elpless in my hands, they was. "

"But what's the matter with Mrs. Church?" said his depressed nephew. 

"Oh, that's the worst of it, " said Uncle Barber, shaking his head. "While I was in play, that pore woman must have thought I was inearnest. She don't say nothing. Not a word, and the efforts she makes tocontrol her feelings is noble. "

"Have you told her she has got to go then?" enquired Flower. 

Captain Barber shook his head. "Mrs. Banks saved me that trouble, " hesaid, grimly. 

"But she can't take notice from Mrs. Banks, " said Flower, "it'll have tocome from you. "

"All in good time, " said Captain Barber, wiping his face. "As I've doneall this for you, I was going to let you tell her. "

"_Me!_" said Flower, with emphasis. 

"Certainly, " said Captain Barber, with more emphasis still. "Just gether to yourself on the quiet and allude to it casual. Then after thatbring the subject up when I'm in the room. As it's to make room for youand your wife, you might fix the date for 'er to go. That'll be the bestway to do it. "

"It seems to me it is rather hard on her, " said his nephew, compassionately; "perhaps we had better wait a little longer. "

"Certainly not, " said Captain Barber, sharply; "don't I tell you yourbanns are up. You're to be asked in church first time next Sunday, You'll both live with me as agreed, and I'm going to make over three o'the cottages to you and a half-share in the ship. The rest you'll haveto wait for. Why don't you look cheerful? You ought to. "

"I'm cheerful enough, " said Flower, recovering himself. "I'm thinking ofyou. "

"Me?" said his uncle. 

"You and Mrs. Church, " said his nephew. "So far as I can see, you'vecommitted yourself. "

"I can manage, " said Uncle Barber. "I've always been master in my ownhouse. Now you'd better step round and see the bride that is to be. "

"Well, you be careful, " said his nephew, warningly. 

"I'm coming, too, " said Captain Barber, with some haste; "there's noneed to stay and wait for trouble. When you go into the house, come backas though you'd forgotten something, and sing out to me that you want meto come too--hard enough for 'er to hear, mind. "

CHAPTER VIII. 

The bewildered master of the _Foam_ spent the remainder of the time atSeabridge in a species of waking nightmare. 

A grey-haired dressmaker and a small apprentice sat in the Banks' bestparlour, and from a chaos of brown paper patterns stuck over with pinsa silk dress of surpassing beauty began slowly to emerge. As a greatconcession Flower was allowed to feel the material, and even to rub itbetween his finger and thumb in imitation of Captain Barber, who wasso prone to the exercise that a small piece was cut for his especialdelectation. A colour of unwonted softness glowed in the cheek ofElizabeth and an air of engaging timidity tempered her interview withFlower, who had to run the gauntlet of much friendly criticism on thepart of his fair neighbours. 

Up to the time of sailing for London again the allusion to Mrs. Church'sdeparture, desired by Captain Barber, had not been made by the youngerman. The housekeeper was still in possession, and shook hands with himat the front door as he limped slowly off with Miss Banks and his uncleto go down to the schooner. His foot was still very bad, so bad thathe stumbled three times on the way to the quay despite the assistanceafforded by the arm of his betrothed. 

"Seems to be no power in it, " he said smiling faintly; "but I daresayit'll be all right by the time. I get back. "

He shook hands with Captain Barber and, as a tribute to conventionality, kissed Miss Banks. The last the two saw of him, he was standing at thewheel waving his handkerchief. They waved their own in return, and asthe _Foam_ drew rapidly away gave a final farewell and departed. 

"What's the game with the foot?" enquired the mate, in a low voice. 

"Tell you by-and-by, " said the skipper; "it's far from well, but evenif it wasn't I should pretend it was bad. I suppose that doesn't suggestanything to you?"

The mate shook his head. 

"Can you see any way out of it?" enquired the other. "What would you doif you were in my place?"

"Marry the girl I wanted to marry, " said the mate, sturdily, "and nottrouble about anything else. "

"And lose thirteen cottages and this ship and my berth in the bargain, "said the skipper. "Now you try and think of some other way, and if youhaven't thought of it by dinner-time, I'll tell you what I'm going todo. "

No other scheme having suggested itself to the mate by the time thatmeal arrived, he prepared to play the part of listener. The skipper, after carefully closing both the door and the skylight, prepared tospeak. 

"I'm in a desperate fix, Jack, that you'll admit, " he said, by way ofpreparation. 

The mate cordially agreed with him. 

"There's Poppy down at Poplar, Matilda at Chelsea, and Elizabeth atSeabridge, " continued Flower, indicating various points on the tablewith his finger as he spoke. "Some men would give up in despair, butI've thought of a way out of it. I've never got into a corner I couldn'tget out of yet. "

"You want a little help though sometimes, " said Fraser. 

"All part of my plans, " rejoined Flower, airily. "If it hadn't beenfor my uncle's interference I should have been all right. A man'sno business to be so officious. As it is, I've got to do somethingdecided. "

"If I were you, " interrupted Fraser, "I should go to Captain Barber andtell him straight and plain how the thing stands. You needn't mentionanything about Miss Tipping. Tell him about the other, and that youintend to marry her. It'll be beat in the long run, and fairer to MissTyrell, too. "

"You don't know my uncle as well as I do, " retorted the skipper. "He'sas obstinate an old fool as ever breathed. If I did as you say I shouldlose everything. Now, I'll tell you what I'm going to do:--To-night, during your watch, I shall come up on deck and stand on the side of theship to look at something in the water, when I shall suddenly hear ashout. "

The mate, who had a piece of dumpling on his fork, half-way to hismouth, put it down again and regarded him open-mouthed. 

"My foot, " continued the skipper, in surprisingly even tones, answeringhis subject, "will then give way and I shall fall overboard. "

The mate was about to speak, but the skipper, gazing in a rapt mannerbefore him, waved him into silence. 

"You will alarm the crew and pitch a life-belt overboard, " he continued;"you will then back sails and lower the boat. "

"You'd better take the lifebelt with you, hadn't you?" enquired themate, anxiously. 

"I shall be picked up by a Norwegian barque, bound for China, " continuedthe skipper, ignoring the interruption; "I shall be away at least sixmonths, perhaps more, according as things turn out. "

The mate pushed his scarcely tasted dinner from him, and got up from thetable. It was quite evident to him that the skipper's love affairs hadturned his brain. 

"By the time I get back, Matilda'll have ceased from troubling, anyway, "said the skipper, "and I have strong hopes that Elizabeth'll takeGibson. I shall stay away long enough to give her a fair chance, anyway. "

"But s'pose you get drowned before anything can pick you up!" suggestedthe mate, feebly. 

"_Drowned?_" repeated the skipper. "Why, you didn't think I was reallygoing overboard, did you? I shall be locked up in my state-room. "

The mate's brow cleared and then darkened again, suddenly. "I see, somemore lies for me to tell, I suppose, " he said, angrily. 

"After you've raised the alarm and failed to recover the body, " saidthe skipper, with relish, "you'll lock my door and put the key inyour pocket. That would be the proper thing to do if I really did gooverboard, you know, and when we get to London I'll just slip quietlyashore. "

The mate came back to his dinner and finished it in silence, while theskipper kept up a rambling fire of instructions for his future guidance. 

"And what about Miss Tyrell?" said the mate, at length. "Is she toknow?"

"Certainly not, " said Flower, sharply. "I wouldn't have her know foranything. You're the only person to know, Jack. You'll have to breakthe news to 'em all, and mind you do it gently, so as not to cause moregrief than you can help. "

"I won't do it at all, " said the mate. 

"Yes, you will, " said Flower, "and if Matilda or her mother come downagain, show it to 'em in the paper. Then they'll know it'll be no goodworrying Cap'n Flower again. If they see it in the paper they'll knowit's true; it's sure to be in the local papers, and in the London ones, too, very likely. I should think it would; the master of a vessel!"

Fraser being in no mood to regard this vanity complacently, went up ondeck and declined to have anything to do with the matter. He maintainedthis attitude of immovable virtue until tea-time, by which time Flower'sentreaties had so won upon him that he was reluctantly compelled toadmit that it seemed to be the only thing possible in the circumstances, and more reluctantly still to promise his aid to the most unscrupulousextent possible. 

"I'll write to you when I'm fixed up, " said the skipper, "giving youmy new name and address. You're the only person I shall be able to keeptouch with. I shall have to rely upon you for everything. If it wasn'tfor you I should be dead to the world. "

"I know what you'll do as well as possible, " said Fraser; "you've gotnothing to do for six months, and you'll be getting into some moreengagements. "

"I don't think you have any call to say that, Jack, " remarked Flower, with some dignity. 

"Well, I wish it was well over, " said the mate, despondently. "What areyou going to do for money?"

"I drew out �40 to get married with--furniture and things, " said Flower;"that'll go overboard with me, of course. I'm doing all this for Poppy'ssake more than my own, and I want you to go up and see her every trip, and let me know how she is. She mightn't care what happened to her ifshe thinks I'm gone, and she might marry somebody else in desperation. "

"I don't care about facing her, " said Fraser, bitterly; "it's a shadybusiness altogether. "

"It's for her sake, " repeated Flower, calmly, "Take on old Ben as mate, and ship another hand forward. "

The mate ended the subject by going to his bunk and turning in; theskipper, who realised that he himself would have plenty of time forsleep, went on deck and sat silently smoking. Old Ben was at the wheel, and the skipper felt a glow of self-rightousness as he thought of therise in life he was about to give the poor fellow. 

At eight o'clock the mate relieved Ben, and the skipper with a view ofkeeping up appearances announced his intention of turning in for a bit. 

The sun went down behind clouds of smoky red, but the light of thesummer evening lasted for some time after. Then darkness came down overthe sea, and it was desolate except for the sidelights of distant craft. The mate drew out his watch and by the light of the binnacle-lamp, sawthat it was ten minutes to ten. At the same moment he heard somebodymoving about forward. 

"Who's that for'ard?" he cried, smartly. 

"Me, sir, " answered Joe's voice. "I'm a bit wakeful, and it's stiflin''ot down below. "

The mate hesitated, and then, glancing at the open skylight, saw theskipper, who was standing on the table. 

"Send him below, " said the latter, in a sharp whisper. 

"You'd better get below, Joe, " said the mate. 

"W'y, I ain't doin' no 'arm, sir, " said Joe, in surprise. 

"Get below, " said the mate, sharply. "Do you hear?--get below. You'll besleeping in your watch if you don't sleep now. "

The sounds of a carefully modulated grumble came faintly aft, then themate, leaning away from the wheel to avoid the galley which obstructedhis view, saw that his order had been obeyed. 

"Now, " said the skipper, quietly, "you must give a perfect scream ofhorror, mind, and put this on the deck. It fell off as I went over, d'yesee?"

He handed over the slipper he had been wearing, and the mate took itsurlily. 

"There ought to be a splash, " he murmured. "Joe's awake. "

The skipper vanished, to reappear a minute or two later with a sack intowhich he had hastily thrust a few lumps of coal and other rubbish. Themate took it from him, and, placing the slipper on the deck, stood withone hand holding the wheel and the other the ridiculous sack. 

"Now, " said the skipper. 

The sack went overboard, and, at the same moment, the mate left thewheel with an ear-splitting yell and rushed to the galley for thelife-belt which hung there. He crashed heavily into Joe, who had rushedon deck, but, without pausing, ran to the side and flung it overboard. 

"Skipper's overboard, " he yelled, running back and putting the helmdown. 

Joe put his head down the fore-scuttle and yelled like a maniac; theothers came up in their night-gear, and in a marvellously short space oftime the schooner was hove to and the cook and Joe had tumbled into theboat and were pulling back lustily in search of the skipper. 

Half an hour elapsed, during which those on the schooner hung over thestern listening intently. They could hear the oars in the rowlocks andthe shouts of the rowers. Tim lit a lantern and dangled it over thewater. 

"Have you got 'im?" cried Ben, as the boat came over the darkness andthe light of the lantern shone on the upturned faces of the men. 

"No, " said Joe, huskily. 

Ben threw him a line, and he clambered silently aboard, followed by thecook. 

"Better put about, " he said to the mate, "and cruise about untildaylight. We ain't found the belt either, and it's just possible he'sgot it. "

The mate shook his head. "It's no good, " he said, confidently; "he'sgone. "

"Well, I vote we try, anyhow, " said Joe, turning on him fiercely. "Howdid it happen?"

"He came up on deck to speak to me, " said the mate, shortly. "He fanciedhe heard a cry from the water and jumped up on the side with his handon the rigging to see. I s'pose his bad foot slipped and he went overbefore I could move. "

"We'll cruise about a bit, " said Joe, loudly, turning to the men. 

"Are you giving orders here, or am I?" said the mate sternly. 

"I am, " said Joe, violently. "It's our duty to do all we can. " There wasa dead silence. Joe, pushing himself in between Ben and the cook, eyedthe men eagerly. 

"What do you mean by that?" said the mate at last. 

"Wot I say, " said Joe, meeting him eye to eye, and thrusting his faceclose to his. 

The mate shrugged his shoulders and walked slowly aft; then, with aregard for appearances which the occasion fully warranted, tookthe schooner for a little circular tour in the neighbourhood of theskipper's disappearance. 

At daybreak, not feeling the loss quite as much as the men, he wentbelow, and, having looked stealthily round, unlocked the door ofthe state-room and peeped in. It was almost uncanny, considering thecircumstances, to see in the dim light the skipper sitting on the edgeof his bunk. 

"What the blazes are you doing, dodging about like this?" he burst out, ungratefully. 

"Looking for the body, " said the mate. "Ain't you heard us shouting?It's not my fault--the crew say they won't leave the spot while there'shalf a chance. "

"Blast the crew, " said the skipper, quite untouched by this devotion. "Ain't you taking charge o' the ship?"

"Joe's about half mad, " said the mate. "It's wonderful how upset he is. "

The skipper cursed Joe separately, and the mate, whose temper wasgetting bad, closed the interview by locking the door. 

At five o'clock, by which time they had cleared three masses of weedand a barnacle-covered plank, they abandoned the search and resumed thevoyage. A gloom settled on the forecastle, and the cook took advantageof the occasion to read Tim a homily upon the shortness of life and thesuddenness of death. Tim was much affected, but not nearly so much as hewas when he discovered that the men were going to pay a last tribute tothe late captain's memory by abstaining from breakfast. He venturedto remark that the excitement and the night air had made him feel veryhungry, and was promptly called an unfeeling little brute by the men forhis pains. The mate, who, in deference to public opinion, had to keep upappearances the same way, was almost as much annoyed as Tim, and, as forthe drowned man himself, his state of mind was the worst of all. He wasso ungrateful that the mate at length lost his temper and when dinnerwas served allowed a latent sense ot humour to have full play. 

It consisted of boiled beef, with duff, carrots, and potatoes, and itsgrateful incense filled the cabin. 

The mate attacked it lustily listening between mouthfuls for anyinterruption from the state-room. At length, unable to endure it anylonger, the prisoner ventured to scratch lightly on the door. 

"Hist!" said the mate, in a whisper. 

The scratching ceased, and the mate, grinning broadly, resumed hisdinner. He finished at last, and lighting his pipe sat back easily inthe locker watching the door out of the corner of his eye. 

With hunger at his vitals the unfortunate skipper, hardly able tobelieve his ears, heard the cook come down and clear away. The smell ofdinner gave way to that of tobacco, and the mate, having half finishedhis pipe, approached the door. 

"Are you there?" he asked, in a whisper. 

"Of course I am, you fool!" said the skipper, wrathfully; "where's mydinner?"

"I'm very sorry, " began the mate, in a whisper. 

"What?" enquired the skipper, fiercely. 

"I've mislaid the key, " said the mate, grinning fiendishly, "an', what'smore, I can't think what I've done with it. "

At this intelligence, the remnants of the skipper's temper vanished, andevery bad word he had heard of, or read of, or dreamt of, floated fromhis hungry lips in frenzied whispers. 

"I can't hear what you say, " said the mate. "What?"

The prisoner was about to repeat his remarks with a few embellishments, when the mate stopped him with one little word. "Hist!" he said, quietly. 

At the imminent risk of bursting, or going mad, the skipper stoppedshort, and the mate, addressing a remark to the cook, who was notpresent, went up on deck. 

He found the key by tea-time, and, his triumph having made him generous, passed the skipper in a large hunk of the cold beef with his tea. Theskipper took it and eyed him wanly, having found an empty stomach veryconducive to accurate thinking. 

"The next thing is to slip ashore at Wapping, Jack, " he said, after hehad finished his meal; "the whar'll be closed by the time we get there. "

"The watchman's nearly sure to be asleep, " said Fraser, "and you caneasily climb the gate. If he's not, I must try and get him out of theway somehow. "

The skipper's forebodings proved to be correct. It was past twelve bythe time they reached Wapping, but the watchman was wide awake and, withmuch bustle, helped them to berth their craft. He received the news ofthe skipper's untimely end with well-bred sorrow, and at once excitedthe wrath of the sensitive Joe by saying that he was not surprised. 

"I 'ad a warning, " he said solemnly, in reply to the indignant seaman. "Larst night exactly as Big Ben struck ten o'clock the gate-bell waspulled three times. "

"I've pulled it fifty times myself before now, " said Joe, scathingly, "and then had to climb over the gate and wake you up. "

"I went to the gate at once, " continued George, addressing himself tothe cook; "sometimes when I'm shifting a barge, or doing any little jobo' that sort, I do 'ave to keep a man waiting, and, if he's drunk, twominutes seems like ages to 'im. "

"You ought to know wot it seems like, " muttered Joe. 

"When I got to the gate an' opened it there was nobody there, " continuedthe watchman, impressively, "and while I was standing there I saw thebell-pull go up an' down without 'ands and the bell rung agin threetimes. "

The cook shivered. "Wasn't you frightened, George?" he asked, sympathetically. 

"I knew it was a warning, " continued the vivacious George. "W'y'e shouldcome to me I don't know. One thing is I think 'e always 'ad a bit of afancy for me. "

"He 'ad, " said Joe; "everybody wot sees you loves you, George. Theycan't help theirselves. "

"And I 'ave 'ad them two ladies down agin asking for Mr. Robinson, andalso for poor Cap'n Flower, " said the watchman; "they asked me somequestions about 'im, and I told 'em the lies wot you told me to tell'em, Joe; p'r'aps that's w'y I 'ad the warning. "

Joe turned away with a growl and went below, and Tim and the cook aftergreedily waiting for some time to give the watchman's imagination afurther chance, followed his example. George left to himself took hisold seat on the post at the end of the jetty, being, if the truth mustbe told, some-what alarmed by his own fertile inventions. 

Three times did the mate, in response to the frenzied commands of theskipper, come stealthily up the companion-way and look at him. Time waspassing and action of some kind was imperative. 

"George, " he whispered, suddenly. 

"Sir, " said the watchman. 

"I want to speak to you, " said Fraser, mysteriously; "come down here. "

George rose carefully from his seat, and lowering himself gingerly onboard, crept on tiptoe to the galley after the mate. 

"Wait in here till I come back, " said the latter, in a thrillingwhisper; "I've got something to show you. Don't move, whatever happens. "

His tones were so fearful, and he put so much emphasis on the lastsentence, that the watchman burst hurriedly out of the galley. 

"I don't like these mysteries, " he said, plainly. 

"There's no mystery, " said the mate, pushing him back again; "somethingI don't want the crew to see, that's all. You're the only man I cantrust. "

He closed the door and coughed, and a figure which had been lurking onthe companion-ladder, slipped hastily on deck and clambered noiselesslyonto the jetty. The mate clambered up beside it, and hurrying with it tothe gate helped it over, and with much satisfaction heard it alight onthe other side. 

"Good-night, Jack, " said Flower. "Don't forget to look after Poppy. "

"Good-night, " said the mate. "Write as soon as you're fixed. "

He walked back leisurely to the schooner and stood in some perplexity, eyeing the galley which contained the devoted George, He stood for solong that his victim lost all patience, and, sliding back the door, peered out and discovered him. 

"Have you got it?" he asked, softly. 

"No, " replied Fraser; "there isn't anything. I was only making a fool ofyou, George. Good-night. "

He walked aft, and stood at the companion watching the outraged Georgeas he came slowly out of the galley and stared about him. 

"Good-night, George, " he repeated. 

The watchman made no reply to the greeting, but, breathing heavily, resumed his old seat on the post; and, folding his arms across hispanting bosom, looked down with majestic scorn upon the schooner and allits contents. Long after the satisfied mate had forgotten the incidentin sleep, he sat there striving to digest the insult of which he hadbeen the victim, and to consider a painful and fitting retribution. 

CHAPTER IX. 

The mate awoke next morning to a full sense of the unpleasant taskbefore him, and, after irritably giving orders for the removal of thetarpaulin from the skylight, a substitution of the ingenious cook'sfor the drawn blinds ashore, sat down to a solitary breakfast and thecomposition of a telegram to Captain Barber. The first, a beautifulpiece of prose, of which the key-note was resignation, contained twoshillings' worth of sympathy and fourpence-halfpenny worth of religion. It was too expensive as it stood, and boiled down, he was surprised tofind that it became unfeeling to the verge of flippancy. Ultimately heembodied it in a letter, which he preceded by a telegram, breaking thesad news in as gentle a form as could be managed for one-and-three. 

The best part of the day was spent in relating the sad end of CaptainFred Flower to various enquirers. The deceased gentleman was a popularfavourite, and clerks from the office and brother skippers came down inlittle knots to learn the full particulars, and to compare the accidentwith others in their experience. It reminded one skipper, who invariablytook to drink when his feelings were touched, of the death of a littlenephew from whooping-cough, and he was so moved over a picture he drewof the meeting of the two, that it took four men to get him off theschooner without violence. 

The mate sat for some time after tea striving to summon up sufficientcourage for his journey to Poplar, and wondering whether it wouldn'tperhaps be better to communicate the news by letter. He even went so faras to get the writing materials ready, and then, remembering his promiseto the skipper, put them away again and prepared for his visit. The crewwho were on deck eyed him stolidly as he departed, and Joe made a remarkto the cook, which that worthy drowned in a loud and troublesome cough. 

The Wheeler family were at home when he arrived, and received him withsome surprise, Mrs. Wheeler, who was in her usual place on the sofa, shook hands with him in a genteel fashion, and calling his attention toa somewhat loudly attired young man of unpleasant appearance, who wasmaking a late tea, introduced him as her son Bob. 

"Is Miss Tyrell in?" enquired Fraser, shaking his head as Mr. Wheelerdusted a small Wheeler off a chair and offered it to him. 

"She's upstairs, " said Emma Wheeler; "shall I go and fetch her?"

"No, I'll go up to her, " said the mate quietly. "I think I'd better seeher alone. I've got rather bad news for her. "

"About the captain?" enquired Mrs. Wheeler, sharply. 

"Yes, " said Fraser, turning somewhat red. "Very bad news. "

He fixed his eyes on the ground, and, in a spasmodic fashion, madeperfect by practice, recited the disaster. 

"Pore feller, " said Mrs. Wheeler, when he had finished. "Pore feller, and cut down suddenly like that. I s'pose he 'adn't made any preparationfor it?"

"Not a bit, " said the mate, starting, "quite unprepared. "

"You didn't jump over after him?" suggested Miss Wheeler, softly. 

"I did not, " said the mate, firmly; whereupon Miss Wheeler, who was fondof penny romance, sighed and shook her head. 

"There's that pore gal upstairs, " said Mrs. Wheeler, sorrowfully, "allinnocent and happy, probably expecting him to come to-night and take herout. Emma'd better go up and break it to 'er. "

"I will, " said Fraser, shortly. 

"Better to let a woman do it, " said Mrs. Wheeler. "When our little Jemmysmashed his finger we sent Emma down to break it to his father and bring'im 'ome. It was ever so long before she let you know the truth, wasn'tit, father?"

"Made me think all sorts of things with her mysteries, " said the dutifulMr. Wheeler, in triumphant corroboration. "First of all she made methink you was dead; then I thought you was all dead--give me such a turnthey 'ad to give me brandy to bring me round. When I found out it wasonly Jemmy's finger, I was nearly off my 'ed with joy. "

"I'll go and tell her, " interrupted Mr. Bob Wheeler, delicately, usingthe inside edge of the table-cloth as a serviette. "I can do it betterthan Emma can. What she wants is comforting; Emma would go and snivelall over her. "

Mrs. Wheeler, raising her head from the sofa, regarded the speaker withlooks of tender admiration, and the young man, after a lengthy glance inthe small pier-glass ornamented with coloured paper, which stood on themantel-piece, walked to the door. 

"You needn't trouble, " said Fraser, slowly; "I'm going to tell her. "

Mrs. Wheeler's dull eyes snapped sharply. "She's our lodger, " she said, aggressively. 

"Yes, but I'm going to tell her, " rejoined the mate; "the skipper toldme to. "

A startled silence was broken by Mr. Wheeler's chair, which fellnoisily. 

"I mean, " stammered Fraser, meeting the perturbed gaze of thedock-foreman, "that he told me once if anything happened to him thatI was to break the news to Miss Tyrell. It's been such a shock to me Ihardly know what I am saying. "

"Yes, you'll go and frighten her, " said Bob Wheeler, endeavouring topush past him. 

The mate blocked the doorway. 

"Are you going to try to prevent me going out of a room in my ownhouse?" blustered the young man. 

"Of course not, " said Fraser, and, giving way, ascended the stairsbefore him. Mr. Wheeler, junior, after a moment's hesitation, turnedback and, muttering threats under his breath, returned to the parlour. 

Miss Tyrell, who was sitting by the window reading, rose upon the mate'sentrance, and, observing that he was alone, evinced a little surprise asshe shook hands with him. It was the one thing necessary to complete hisdiscomfiture, and he stood before her in a state of guilty confusion. 

"Cap'n Flower couldn't come, " he stammered. 

The girl said nothing, but with her dark eyes fixed upon his flushedface waited for him to continue. 

"It's his misfortune that he couldn't come, " con-tinued Fraser, jerkily. 

"Business, I suppose?" said the girl, after another wait. "Won't you sitdown?"

"Bad business, " replied Fraser. He sat down, and fancied he saw the wayclear before him. 

"You've left him on the _Foam_, I suppose?" said Poppy, seeing that shewas expected to speak. 

"No; farther back than that, " was the response. 

"Seabridge?" queried the girl, with an air of indifference. 

Fraser regarded her with an expression of studied sadness. "Not so farback as that, " he said, softly. 

Miss Tyrell manifested a slight restlessness. "Is it a sort of riddle?"she demanded. 

"No, it's a tale, " replied Fraser, not without a secret admiration ofhis unsuspected powers of breaking bad news; "a tale with a bad ending. "

The girl misunderstood him. "If you mean that Captain Flower doesn'twant to come here, and sent you to say so--" she began, with dignity. 

"He can't come, " interrupted the mate, hastily. 

"Did he send you to tell me?" she asked

Fraser shook his head mournfully. "He can't come, " he said, in a lowvoice; "he had a bad foot--night before last he was standing on theship's side--when he lost his hold--"

He broke off and eyed the girl nervously, "and fell overboard, " heconcluded. 

Poppy Tyrell gave a faint cry and, springing to her feet, stood with herhand on the back of her chair regarding him. "Poor fellow, " she said, softly--"poor fellow. "

She sat down again by the open window and nervously plucked at theleaves of a geranium. Her face was white and her dark eyes pitiful andtender. Fraser, watching her, cursed his resourceful skipper and hatedhimself. 

"It's a terrible thing for his friends, " said Poppy, at length. "And foryou, " said Fraser, respectfully. 

"I am very grieved, " said Poppy, quietly; "very shocked and verygrieved. "

"I have got strong hopes that he may have got picked up, " said Fraser, cheerfully; "very strong hopes, I threw him a life-belt, and though wegot the boat out and pulled about, we couldn't find either of them. Ishouldn't be at all surprised if he has been picked up by some vesseloutward bound. Stranger things have happened. "

The girl shook her head. "You didn't go overboard after him?" she asked, quietly. 

"I did not, " said the mate, who was somewhat tired of this tactlessquestion; "I had to stand by the ship, and besides, he was a much betterswimmer than I am--I did the best I could. "

Miss Tyrell bowed her head in answer. "Yes, " she said, softly. 

"If there's anything I can do, " said Fraser, awkwardly, "or be of use toyou in any way, I hope you'll let me know--Flower told me you were allalone, and--"

He broke off suddenly as he saw the girl's lips quiver. "I was very fondof my father, " she said, in extenuation of this weakness. 

"I suppose you've got some relatives?" said Fraser. 

The girl shook her head. 

"No cousins?" said Fraser, staring. He had twenty-three himself. 

"I have some in New Zealand, " said Poppy, considering. "If I could, Ithink I should go out there. "

"And give up your business here?" enquired the mate, anxiously. 

"It gave me up, " said Poppy, with a little tremulous laugh. "I hada week's pay instead of notice the day before yesterday. If you knowanybody who wants a clerk who spells 'impatient' with a 'y' and isoff-hand when they are told of it, you might let me know. "

The mate stared at her blankly. This was a far more serious case thanCaptain Flower's. "What are you going to do?" he asked. 

"Try for another berth, " was the reply. 

"But if you don't get it?"

"I shall get it sooner or later, " said the girl. 

"But suppose you don't get one for a long time?" suggested Fraser. 

"I must wait till I do, " said the girl, quietly. 

"You see, " continued the mate, twisting his hands, "it might be a longjob, and I--I was wondering--what you would do in the meantime. I waswondering whether you could hold out. "

"Hold out?" repeated Miss Tyrell, very coldly. 

"Whether you've got enough money, " blurted the mate. 

Miss Tyrell turned upon him a face in which there was now no lack ofcolour. "That is my business, " she said, stiffly. 

"Mine, too, " said Fraser, gazing steadily at the pretty picture ofindignation before him. "I was Flower's friend as well as his mate, andyou are only a girl. " The indignation became impatience. "Little morethan a child, " he murmured, scrutinising her. 

"I am quite big enough to mind my own business, " said Poppy, revertingto chilly politeness. 

"I wish you would promise me you won't leave here or do anything untilI have seen you again, '' said Fraser, who was anxious to consult hiscaptain on this new phase of affairs. 

"Certainly not, " said Miss Tyrell, rising and standing by her chair, "and thank you for calling. "

Fraser rubbed his chin helplessly. 

"Thank you for calling, " repeated the girl, still standing. 

"That is telling me to go, I suppose?" said, Fraser, looking at herfrankly. "I wish I knew how to talk to you. When I think of you beinghere all alone, without friends and without employment, it seems wrongfor me to go and leave you here. "

Miss Tyrell gave a faint gasp and glanced anxiously at the door. Fraserhesitated a moment, and then rose to his feet. 

"If I hear anything more, may I come and tell you?" he asked. 

"Yes, " said Poppy, "or write; perhaps it would be better to write; Imight not be at home. Goodbye. "

The mate shook hands, and, blundering down the stairs, shoutedgood-night to a segment of the Wheeler family visible through thehalf-open door, and passed out into the street. He walked for some timerapidly, gradually slowing down as he collected his thoughts. 

"Flower's a fool, " he said, bitterly; "and, as for me, I don't know whatI am. It's so long since I told the truth I forget what it's like, andI'd sooner tell lies in a church than tell them to her. "

CHAPTER X. 

He looked expectantly on the cabin table for a letter upon his return tothe ship, but was disappointed, and the only letter yielded by the postnext morning came from Captain Barber. It was couched in terms of greatresignation, and after bemoaning the unfortunate skipper's untimelydemise in language of great strength, wound up with a little Scriptureand asked the mate to act as master and sail the schooner home. 

"You'll act as mate, Ben, to take her back, " said the new skipper, thrusting the letter in his pocket. 

"Aye, aye, sir, " said Ben, with a side glance at Joe, "but I'll keepfor'ard, if you don't mind. "

"As you please, " said Fraser, staring. 

"And you're master, I s'pose?" said Joe, turning to Fraser. 

Fraser, whose manner had already effected the little change renderednecessary by his promotion from mate to master, nodded curtly, and thecrew, after another exchange of looks, resumed their work without aword. Their behaviour all day was docile, not to say lamb-like, and itwas not until evening that the new skipper found it necessary to enforcehis authority. 

The exciting cause of the unpleasantness was Mr. William Green, a slim, furtive-eyed young man, whom Fraser took on in the afternoon to fill thevacancy caused by Ben's promotion. He had not been on board half an hourbefore trouble arose from his attempt to introduce the manners of thedrawing-room into the forecastle. 

"Mr. Will-yum Green, " repeated Joe, when the new arrival had introducedhimself; "well, you'll be Bill 'ere. "

"I don't see why, if I call you Mr. Smith, you shouldn't call me Mr. Green, " said the other. 

"Call me wot?" enquired Joe, sternly; "you let me 'ear you callin' memister anythink, that's all; you let me 'ear you. "

"I'm sure the cook 'ere don't mind me callin' 'im Mr. Fisher, " said thenew seaman. 

"Cert'nly not, " said the gratified cook; "only my name's Disher. "

The newcomer apologised with an urbanity that rendered Joe and old Benspeechless. They gazed at each other in silent consternation, and thenBen rose. 

"We don't want no misters 'ere, " he said, curtly, "an' wot's more, wewon't 'ave 'em. That chap's name's Bob, but we calls 'im Slushy. If it'sgood enough for us, it's good enough for a ordinary seaman wot's got anA. B. Discharge by mistake. Let me 'ear you call 'im Slushy. Go on now. "

"I've no call to address 'im at all just now, " said Mr. Green, loftily. 

"You call 'im Slushy, " roared Joe, advancing upon him; "call 'im Slushytill I tell you to stop. "

"Slushy, " said Mr. Green, sullenly, and avoiding the pained gaze of thecook; "Slushy, Slushy, Slushy, Slushy, Sl----"

"That'll do, " said the cook, rising, with a scowl. "You don't want tomake a song abart it. "

Joe, content with his victory, resumed his seat on the locker andexchanged a reassuring glance with Ben; Mr. Green, with a deprecatoryglance at the cook, sat down and offered him a pipe of tobacco. 

"Been to sea long?" enquired the cook, accepting it

"Not long, " said the other, speaking very distinctly. 

"I was brought up for something quite different. I'm just doing thistill something better turns up. I find it very difficult to be agentleman at sea. "

The cook, with an eye on Joe, ventured on a gentle murmur of sympathy, and said that he had experienced the same thing. 

"I 'ad money, " continued Mr. Green, musingly, "and I run through it;then I 'ad more money, and I run through that. "

"Ben, " said Joe, suddenly, "pass me over that boot o' yours. "

"Wha' for?" enquired Ben, who had just taken it off. 

"To chuck at that swab there, " said the indignant seaman. 

Ben passed it over without a word, and his irritated friend, takingcareful aim, launched it at Mr. Green and caught him on the side of thehead with it. Pain standing the latter in lieu of courage, he snatchedit up and returned it, and the next moment the whole forecastle waspunching somebody else's head, while Tim, in a state of fearful joy, peered down on it from his bunk. 

Victory, rendered cheap and easy by reason of the purblindness of thefrantic cook, who was trying to persuade Mr. Green to raise his facefrom the floor so that he could punch it for him, remained with Joeand Ben, who, in reply to the angry shouts of the skipper from above, pointed silently to the combatants. Explanations, all different andall ready to be sworn to if desired, ensued, and Fraser, after curtlyreminding Ben of his new position and requesting him to keep order, walked away. 

A silence broken only by the general compliments of the much gratifiedTim, followed his departure, although another outbreak nearly occurredowing to the cook supplying raw meat for Mr. Green's eye and refusingit for Joe's. It was the lack of consideration and feeling that affectedJoe, not for the want of the beef, that little difficulty being easilysurmounted by taking Mr. Green's. The tumult was just beginning again, when it was arrested by the sound of angry voices above. Tim, followedby Joe, sprang up the ladder, and the couple with their heads at theopening listened with appreciative enjoyment to a wordy duel betweenMrs. Tipping and daughter and the watchman. 

"Call me a liar, then, " said old George, in bereaved accents. 

"I have, " said Mrs. Tipping. 

"Only you're so used to it you don't notice it, " remarked her daughter, scathingly. 

"I tell you he's drownded, " said the watchman, raising his voice; "ifyou don't believe me, go and ask Mr. Fraser. He's skipper in his placenow. "

He waved his hand in the direction of Fraser, who, having heardthe noise, was coming on deck to see the cause of it. Mrs. Tipping, compressing her lips, got on board, followed by her daughter, andmarching up to him eyed him severely. 

"I wonder you can look us in the face after the trick you served us theother night, " she said, fiercely. 

"You brought it on yourselves, " said Fraser, calmly. "You wouldn't goaway, you know. You can't always be coming here worrying. "

"We shall come whenever we choose, " said Mrs. Tipping. "In the firstplace, we want to see Mr. Robinson; anyway we intend to see CaptainFlower, so you can save that fat old man the trouble of telling us liesabout him. "

"Captain Flower fell overboard night before last, if that's what youmean, " said Fraser, gravely. 

"I never saw such a man in all my life, " exclaimed Mrs. Tipping, wrathfully. "You're a perfect--what's the man's name in the Scriptures?"she asked, turning to her daughter. 

Miss Tipping, shaking her head despondently, requested her parent not toworry her. 

"Well, it doesn't signify. I shall wait here till he comes, " said Mrs. Tipping. 

"What, Ananias?" cried Fraser, forgetting himself. 

Mrs. Tipping, scorning to reply, stood for some time gazing thoughtfullyabout her. Then, in compliance with her whispered instructions, herdaughter crossed to the side and, brushing aside the outstretched handof the watchman, reached the jetty and walked into the office. Two ofthe clerks were still working there, and she came back hastily to hermother with the story of the captain's death unmistakably confirmed. 

Mrs. Tipping, loath to accept defeat, stood for some time inconsideration. "What had Captain Flower to do with Mr. Robinson?" sheasked at length, turning to Fraser. 

"Can't say, " was the reply. 

"Have you ever seen Mr. Robinson?" enquired the girl. 

"I saw him one night, " said the other, after some deliberation. "Rathergood-looking man, bright blue eyes, good teeth, and a jolly laugh. "

"Are you likely to see him again?" enquired Miss Tipping, nodding inconfirmation of these details. 

"Not now poor Flower's gone, " replied Fraser. "I fancy we shipped somecases of rifles for him one night. The night you first came. I don'tknow what it all was about, but he struck me as being rather a secretivesort of man. "

"He was that, " sighed Miss Tipping, shaking her head. 

"I heard him say that night, " said the mate, forgetful of his recentlongings after truth, "that he was off abroad. He said that somethingwas spoiling his life, I remember, but that duty came first. "

"There, do you hear that, mother?" said Miss Tipping. 

"Yes, I hear, " said the other, with an aggressive sniff, as she movedslowly to the side. "But I'm not satisfied that the captain is dead. They'd tell us anything. You've not seen the last of me, young man, Ican tell you. "

"I hope not, " said Fraser, cordially. "Any time the ship's up in Londonand you care to come down, I shall be pleased to see you. "

Mrs. Tipping, heated with the climb, received this courtesy withcoldness, and having enquired concerning the fate of Captain Flower ofsix different people, and verified their accounts from the landlord ofthe public-house at the corner, to whom she introduced herself with much_aplomb_ as being in the profession, went home with her daughter, inwhom depression, in its most chronic form, had settled in the form ofunfilial disrespect. 

Two hours later the _Foam_ got under way, and, after some heatedlanguage owing to the watchman mistaking Mr. Green's urbanity forsarcasm, sailed slowly down the river. The hands were unusually quiet, but their behaviour passed unnoticed by the new skipper, who was tooperturbed by the falsehoods he had told and those he was about to tellto take much heed of anything that was passing. 

"I thought you said you preferred to keep for-'ard?" he said to Ben, asthat worthy disturbed his meditations next morning by bustling into thecabin and taking his seat at the breakfast table. 

"I've changed my mind; the men don't know their place, " said the mate, shortly. 

Fraser raised his eyebrows. 

"Forget who I am, " said Ben, gruffly. "I was never one to take muchcount of such things, but when it comes to being patted on the back byan A. B. , it's time to remind 'em. "

"Did they do that?" said Fraser, in a voice of horror. 

"Joe did, " said Ben. "'E won't do it ag'in, I don't think. I didn't sayanything, but I think 'e knows my feelings. "

"There's your berth, " said Fraser, indicating it with a nod. 

Ben grunted in reply, and being disinclined for conversation, busiedhimself with the meal, and as soon as he had finished went up on deck. 

"Wot yer been down there for, Bennie?" asked Joe, severely, as heappeared; "your tea's all cold. "

"I've 'ad my breakfast with the skipper, " said Ben, shortly. 

"You was always fond of your stummick, Bennie, " said Joe, shaking hishead, sorrowfully. "I don't think much of a man wot leaves his old matesfor a bit o' bacon. "

The new mate turned away from him haughtily, "Tim, " he said, sharply. 

"Yes, Ben, " said the youth. "Why, wot's the matter? Wot are you lookinglike that for? Ain't you well?" "Wot did you call me?" demanded the newmate. 

"I didn't call you anything, " said the startled Tim. 

"Let me 'ear you call me Ben ag'in and you'll hear of it, " said theother, sharply. "Go and clean the brasswork. "

The youth strolled off, gasping, with an envious glance at the cook, who, standing just inside the galley, cheerfully flaunted a saucepan hewas cleaning, as though defying the mate to find _him_ any work to do. 

"Bill, " said the mate. 

"Sir, " said the polite seaman. 

"Help Joe scrub paintwork, " was the reply. 

"Me!" broke in the indignant Joe. 

"Scrub--Look 'ere, Ben. "

"Pore old Joe, " said the cook, who had not forgiven him for the previousnight's affair. "Pore old Joe. "

"Don't stand gaping about, " commanded the new mate. "Liven up there. "

"It don't want cleaning. I won't do it, " said Joe, fiercely. 

"I've give my orders, " said the new mate, severely; "if they ain'tattended to, or if I 'ear any more about not doing 'em, you'll hear ofit. The idea o' telling me you won't do it. The idea o' setting such anexample to the young 'uns. The idea--Wot are you making that face for?"

"I've got the earache, " retorted Joe, with bitter sarcasm. 

"I thought you would 'ave, Joe, " said the vengeful cook, retiring behinda huge frying-pan, "when I 'eard you singing this morning. "

Fraser, coming on deck, was just in time to see a really creditableimitation of a famous sculpture as represented by Joe, Tim, and Ben, buthis criticism was so sharp and destructive that the group at once brokeand never re-formed. Indeed, with a common foe in the person of Ben, thecrew adjusted their own differences, and by the time Seabridge was insight were united by all the fearful obligations of a secret society ofwhich Joe was the perpetual president. 

Captain Barber, with as much mourning as he could muster at such shortnotice, was waiting on the quay. His weather-beaten face was not quiteso ruddy as usual, and Fraser, with a strong sense of shame, fancied, as the old man clambered aboard the schooner, that his movements wereslower than of yore. 

"This is a dreadful business, Jack, " he said, giving him a hearty grip, when at length he stood aboard the schooner. 

"Shocking, " said Fraser, reddening. 

"I've spoken to have the coast-guards look out for him, " said the oldman. "He may come ashore, and I know he'd be pleased to be put in thechurchyard decent. "

"I'm sure he would, " said Fraser. "I suppose there's no chance of hishaving been picked up. I slung a life-belt overboard. "

Captain Barber shook his head. "It's a mysterious thing, " he saidslowly; "a man who'd been at sea all his life to go and tumble overboardin calm weather like that. "

"There's a lot that's mysterious about it, sir, " said Joe, who had drawnnear, followed by the others. "I can say that, because I was on deckonly a few minutes before it happened. "

"Pity you didn't stay up, " said Captain Barber, ruefully. 

"So I thought, sir, " said Joe, "but the mate saw me on deck and made mego below. Two minutes afterwards I heard a splash, and the skipper wasoverboard. "

There was a meaning in his words that there was no mistaking. The oldman, looking round at the faces, saw that the mate's was very pale. 

"What did he make you go below for?" he asked, turning to Joe. 

"Better ask him, sir, " replied the seaman. "I wanted to stay up on deck, but I 'ad to obey orders. If I 'ad stayed on deck, he wouldn't have beencap'n. "

Captain Barber turned and regarded the mate fixedly; the mate, after avain attempt to meet his gaze, lowered his eyes to the deck. 

"What do you say to all this?" enquired Barber, slowly. 

"Nothing, " replied the mate. "I did send Joe below and the skipper felloverboard a minute or two afterwards. It's quite true. "

"Fell?" enquired Captain Barber. 

"Fell, " repeated the other, and looked him squarely in the eyes. 

For some time Captain Barber said nothing, and the men, finding thesilence irksome, shuffled uneasily. 

"Fred saved your life once, " said Barber, at length. 

"He did, " replied Fraser. 

The old man turned and paced slowly up and down the deck. 

"He was my sister's boy, " he said, halting in front of the mate, "but hewas more like my son. His father and mother were drownded too, but theywent down fair and square in a gale. He stuck by his ship, and she stuckby him, God bless her. "

Fraser nodded. 

"I'm obliged to you for bringing my ship from London, " said Barber, slowly. "I sha'n't want you to take 'er back. I sha'n't want you to stayin 'er at all. I don't want to see you again. "

"That's as you please, " said Fraser, trying to speak unconcernedly. "It's your ship, and it's for you to do as you like about her. I'll putmy things together now. "

"You don't ask for no reason?" asked Barber, eyeing him wistfully. 

The other shook his head. "No, " he said, simply, and went below. 

He came up some little time later with his belongings in a couple ofchests, and, the men offering no assistance, put them ashore himself, and hailing a man who was sitting in a cart on the quay, arranged withhim to convey them to the station. 

"Is 'e to be let go like this?" said Joe, hotly. 

"Will you stop me?" demanded Fraser, choking with rage, as he steppedaboard again. 

"Joe, " said Ben, sharply. 

The seaman glared at him offensively. 

"Go for'ard, " said the new mate, peremptorily, "go for'ard, and don'tmake yourself so busy. "

The seaman, helpless with rage, looked to Captain Barber for guidance, and, the old man endorsing the new mate's order, went forward, indulgingin a soliloquy in which Ben as a proper noun was mixed up in the companyof many improper adjectives. 

Fraser, clambering into the cart, looked back at the _Foam_. The old manwas standing with his hands clasped behind his back looking down on thedeck, while the hands stood clumsily by. With an idea that the positionhad suddenly become intolerable he sat silent until they reached thestation, and being for the first time for many months in the possessionof a holiday, resolved for various reasons to pay a dutiful visit to hisfather at Bittlesea. 

CHAPTER XI. 

Captain Barber walked to his house in thoughtful mood, and sighed as hethought of the uncertainty of life and the futility of earthly wishes. The blinds at his windows were all decently drawn, while the Union Jackdrooped at half-mast in the front garden. He paused at the gate, witha strong distaste for encountering the subdued gloom and the wealth ofwomanly love which awaited him indoors, and bethinking himself of themasterless state of his craft, walked slowly back and entered the ThornInn. 

"No news, I suppose, Captain Barber?" said the landlady, regarding himwith great sympathy. 

The captain shook his head, and exchanging greetings with a couple ofneighbours, ordered something to drink. 

"It's wonderful how you bear up, I'm sure, " said the landlady. "When mypoor dear died I cried every day for five weeks. I came down to skin andbone almost. "

"Well, if I was you--" said the old man, irritably, and regarding thelady's ample proportions with an unfavourable eye. 

"What?" enquired the other, pausing with her fingers on the whisky-tap. 

"If I was you, " repeated Captain Barber, slowly, in order to give timefor full measure, "I should go an' cry for five months all day and allnight. "

The landlady put the glass in front of him sharply, and after giving himhis change without looking at him, thoughtfully wiped down the counter. 

"Mrs. Church quite well?" she enquired, with studied artlessness. 

"Quite well, " replied the captain, scenting danger. 

The landlady, smiling amiably, subsided into a comfortableWindsor-chair, and shook her head at him so severely that, against hisbetter sense, he felt compelled to demand an explanation. 

"There, there, " replied the landlady, "get along with you, do!Innocence!"

"It's no good, Cap'n Barber, " said one of the customers, with the bestintentions in the world. 

"It struck me all of a heap, " said the landlady. 

"So it did me, " said the other man. 

"My missus knew it all along, " said the first man; "she said she knew itby the way they looked at one another. "

"Might I ask who you're talking of?" demanded the incensed Barber, who had given up the effort to appear unconscious as being beyond hispowers. 

"A young engaged couple, " said the landlady. 

The captain hesitated. "What have you been shaking your head at me andtelling me it's no good for, then?" he demanded. 

"At your pretending not to have heard of it, " said the landlady. 

"I have not 'eard of it, " said Captain Barber, fiercely, as he took uphis glass and walked towards the parlour. "I've got something better todo than talk about my neighbours' affairs. "

"Yes, of course you have, " said the landlady. "We know that. "

The indignant Barber closed the door behind him with a bang, and, excited with the controversy, returned with a short and suspiciousnod the greeting of a small man of shrunken and forlorn aspect who wassitting at the other side of the room. 

"Mornin', Cap'n Nibletts, " he growled. 

"Mornin, sir, " said Nibletts; "how's things?"

Captain Barber shook his head. "Bad as bad can be, " he replied, slowly;"there's no hope at all. I'm looking for a new master for my vessel. "

Nibletts looked up at him eagerly, and then looked away again. Hislast command had hoisted the green flag at the mouth of the river ina position which claimed attention, respect, and profanity fromevery craft which passed, its master having been only saved from thetraditional death of the devoted shipmaster by the unpardonable conductof the mate, who tore him from his craft by the scruff of his neck andthe seat of his trousers. 

"What about Harris?" he suggested. 

"I don't like Harris's ways, " said Barber, slowly. 

"Well, what about Fletcher?" said Nibletts. 

"Fletcher's ways are worse than wot Harris's ways are, " commentedCaptain Barber. 

"I can understand you being careful, " said Captain Nibletts; "she's theprettiest little craft that ever sailed out of Seabridge. You can't betoo careful. ". 

"If things 'ad been different, " said the gratified owner, rolling hiswhisky round his mouth and swallowing it gently, "I'd have liked you tohave 'ad her. "

"Thankee, " said Nibletts, quietly. 

There was a pause, during which both men eyed the noble specimensof fish which are preserved for tavern parlours. Captain Barber tookanother sip of whisky. 

"I'm going to use my own judgment, Nibletts, " he said slowly. "I'vealways rose superior to the opinions of other people. There's nobody youknow would give you a ship. _I'm_ going to give you the _Foam!_"

Captain Nibletts, rising from his seat, crossed over, and taking hishand, thanked him in broken accents for this overpowering expression ofconfidence in him. Then he walked back, and taking his whisky from thetable, threw it on the floor. 

"I've had enough of that, " he said briefly. "When am I to take her over, Cap'n Barber?"

"So soon as ever you please, " said his benefactor. "Old Ben'll stay onas mate; Fraser's gone. "

Captain Nibletts thanked him again, and, clapping on his hard hat, passed hastily into the bar, his small visage twisted into a smile, to which it had long been a stranger. With the customers in the bar heexchanged remarks of so frivolous a nature in passing that the landladynearly dropped the glass she was wiping, and then, crimson withindignation, as the door swung behind him, realised that the melancholyand usually respectful Nibletts had thought fit to publicly address heras "Gertie. "

In the same high spirits the new master swung hastily down the roadto his new command. Work had already commenced, and the energetic Ben, having been pushed over once by a set of goods in the slings owing tothe frantic attempts of the men at the hand-crane to keep pace with hisdemands, was shouting instructions from a safe distance. He looked roundas Nibletts stepped aboard, and, with a wary eye on the crane, bustledtowards him. 

"Wot can we do for you, Cap'n Nibletts?" he enquired, with a patronisingair. 

"I'm to be master, " replied the other, quietly. 

"_You?_" said Ben, with offensive astonishment, as he saw the death ofhis own ambitious hopes in that quarter. "You to be master?"

Nibletts nodded and coloured. "Cap'n Barber just gave me the berth, " heremarked. 

Ben sighed and shook his head. "He'll never be the same man ag'in, " heaffirmed, positively; "'e went away: from 'ere dazed, quite dazed. 'Owwas 'e when you saw 'im?"

"He was all right, " was the reply. 

Ben shook his head as one who knew better. "I 'ope he won't get no moreshocks, " he observed, gravely. "It'll be nice for you to get to seaag'in, Cap'n. "

Captain Nibletts raised his weather-beaten countenance and sniffed theair with relish. 

"You'll be able to see the _Diadem_ as we go by, " continued thesorely-aggravated Ben. "There's just her masts showing at 'igh water. "

A faint laugh rose from somebody in the hold, and Nibletts, his face adull red, stole quietly below and took possession of his new quarters. In the course of the day he transferred his belongings to the schooner, and, as though half fearful that his new command might yet slip throughhis fingers, slept on board. 

On the way back to London a sum in simple proportion, set by Joe, helpedto exercise the minds of the crew in the rare intervals which the newmate allowed them for relaxation: "If Ben was bad on the fust v'y'ge, and much wuss on the second, wot 'ud he be like on the tenth?" Allagreed that the answer would require a lot of working. They tarred therigging, stropped the blocks, and in monkey-like attitudes scrapedthe masts. Even the cook received a little instruction in his art, andestranged the affections of all hands by a "three-decker, " made underBen's personal supervision. 

The secret society discussed the matter for some time in vain. Thedifficulty was not so much in inventing modes of retaliation as infinding some bold spirit to carry them out. In vain did the presidentallot tasks to his admiring followers, preceded by excellent reasons whyhe should not perform them himself. The only one who showed any spiritat all was Tim, and he, being ordered to spill a little tar carelesslyfrom aloft, paid so much attention to the adverb that Joe half killedhim when he came down again. 

Then Mr. William Green, having learnt that the mate was unable to read, did wonders with a piece of chalk and the frying pan, which he hungbarometer fashion outside the galley when the skipper was below, thelaughter of the delighted crew bearing witness to the success of hisefforts, laughter which became almost uncontrollable as the mate, withas stately an air as he could assume, strode towards the galley andbrought up in front of the frying-pan. 

"Wot's all that, cook?" he demanded, pointing to the writing. 

"Wot, sir?" asked the innocent. 

"On the frying-pan, " replied Ben, scowling. 

"That's chalk-marks, " explained the cook, "to clean it with. "

"It looks to me like writing, " snapped the mate. 

"Lor, no, sir, " said the cook, with a superior smile. 

"I say it does, " said Ben, stamping. 

"Well, o' course you know best, sir, " said the cook, humbly. "I ain'tnothing of a scholard myself. If it's writing, wot does it say, please?"

"I don't say it is writing, " growled the old man. "I say it looks likeit. "

"I can assure you you're mistook, sir, " said the cook, blandly; "yousee, I clean the sorsepans the same way. I only 'eard of it lately. Look'ere. "

He placed the articles in question upside down in a row on the deck, andTim, reading the legends inscribed thereon, and glancing from themto the mate, was hastily led below in an overwrought condition by theflattered Mr. Green. 

"Cook, " said the mate, ferociously. 

"Sir, " said the other. 

"I won't 'ave the sorsepans cleaned that way. 

"No, sir, " said the cook, respectfully, "it does make 'em larf, don'tit, sir, though I can't see wot they're larfing at any more than wot youcan. "

The mate walked off fuming, and to his other duties added that ofinspector of pots and pans, a condition of things highly offensiveto the cook, inasmuch as certain culinary arrangements of his, onlyremotely connected with cleanliness, came in for much unskilled comment. 

The overworked crew went ashore at the earliest possible moment aftertheir arrival in London, in search of recuperative draughts. Ben watchedthem a trifle wistfully as they moved off, and when Nibletts soon afterfollowed their example without inviting him to join him in a socialglass of superior quality, smiled mournfully as he thought of thedisadvantages of rank. 

He sat for some time smoking in silence, monarch of all he surveyed, andthen, gazing abstractedly at the silent craft around him, fell intoa pleasant dream, in which he saw himself in his rightful position asmaster of the _Foam_, and Nibletts, cashiered for drunkenness, coming tohim for employment before the mast. His meditations were disturbed bya small piece of coal breaking on the deck, at which he looked lazily, until, finding it followed by two other pieces, he reluctantly came tothe conclusion that they were intended for him. A fourth piece, betteraimed, put the matter beyond all reasonable doubt, and, looking upsharply, he caught the watchman in the act of launching the fifth. 

"Hullo, old 'un, " said George, cheerfully, "I thought you was asleep. "

"You thought wrong, then, " said the mate, sourly; "don't you do thatag'in. "

"Why, did I 'urt you?" said the other, surprised at his tone. 

"Next time you want to chuck coal at anybody, " continued Ben, withdignity, "pick out one o' the 'ands; mates don't like 'aving coalchucked at 'em by watchmen. "

"Look who we are, " gasped the petrified George. "Look who we are, " herepeated, helplessly. "Look who we are. "

"Keep your place, watchman, " said the mate, severely; "keep your place, and I'll keep mine. "

The watchman regarded him for some time in genuine astonishment, andthen, taking his old seat on the post, thrust his hands in his pockets, and gave utterance to this shocking heresy, "Mates ain't nothing. "

"You mind your business, watchman, " said the nettled Ben, "and I'll mindmine. "

"You don't know it, " retorted the other, breathing heavily; "be--sides, you don't look like a mate. I wouldn't chuck coal at a _real_ mate. "

He said no more, but sat gazing idly up and down the river with a facefrom which all expression had been banished, except when at intervalshis gaze rested upon the mate, when it lit up with an expression ofwonder and joy which made the muscles ache with the exercise. 

He was interrupted in this amusement by the sound of footsteps andfeminine voices behind him; the indefatigable Tippings were payinganother of their informal visits, and, calmly ignoring his presence, came to the edge of the jetty and discussed ways and means of boardingthe schooner. 

"Mr. Fraser's gone, " said the watchman, politely and loudly, "there'sa new skipper now, and that tall, fine, 'andsome, smart, good-lookingyoung feller down there is the new mate. "

The new mate, looking up fiercely, acknowledged the introduction withan inhospitable stare, a look which gave way to one of anxiety asMrs. Tipping, stepping into the rigging, suddenly lost her nerve, and, gripping it tightly, shook it in much the same fashion as a stoutbluebottle shakes the web of a spider. 

"Hold tight, mar, " cried her daughter, excitedly. 

The watchman stepped into the rigging beside her, and patted hersoothingly on the back; the mate, coming to the side, took her foot andassisted her to reach the deck. Miss Tipping followed, and the elderlady, after recovering from the shock caused by her late peril, fell todiscussing the eternal subject of Mr. Robinson with the new mate. 

"No, I never see 'im, " said Ben, thoughtfully; "I never heard of himtill you come asking arter 'im. 

"You must make up your mind he's gone, " said Mrs. Tipping, turning toher daughter, "that's what I keep telling you. I never was so tired ofanything in my life as tramping down here night after night. It ain'trespectable. "

"You needn't come, " said the other, dutifully. "He was last heard of onthis ship, and where else am I to look for him? You said you'd like tofind him yourself. "

"I should, " said Mrs. Tipping, grimly; "I should. Me an' him are to havea little talk, if ever we do meet. "

"If he ever comes aboard this ship, " said the mate, firmly, "I'll tacklehim for you. "

"Find out where he lives, " said Mrs. Tipping, eagerly. 

"And let us know, " added her daughter, giving him a card; "that's ouraddress, and any time you're up our way we shall be very pleased to seeyou, Mr. ----"

"Brown, " said the mate, charmed with their manners. "Mr. Brown. "

"Ben, " cried a voice from the wharf. 

The new mate gazed austerely at the small office-boy above. 

"Letter for the mate, " said the youth, who was unversed in recenthistory; "catch. "

He pitched it to the deck and walked off whistling. There was onlyone mate in Ben's world, and he picked the letter up and put it in hispocket. 

"Don't mind us, if you want to read it, " said Mrs. Tipping, kindly. 

"Only business, I expect, " said Ben, grandly. 

He took it from his pocket, and, tearing the envelope, threw it asideand made a feint of reading the contents. 

"Not bad news, I hope?" said Mrs. Tipping, noticing his wrinkled brow. 

"I can't read without my glasses, " said the mate, with a measure oftruth in the statement. He looked at Mrs. Tipping, and saw a chance ofavoiding humiliation. 

"P'r'aps you'd just look at it and see if it's important, " he suggested. 

Mrs. Tipping took the letter from him, and, after remarking on thestrangeness of the handwriting, read aloud:--

"Dear Jack:--If you want to see Mr. Norton, come to 10, John Street, Walworth, and be careful nobody sees you. "

"Jack, " said the mate, stooping for the envelope. 

"Why it must be meant for Mr. --for Jack Fraser. "

"Careful nobody sees you, " murmured Miss Tipping, excitedly, as she tookthe envelope from the mate; "why, the address is printed by hand. "

Mother and daughter looked at each other. It was evident that theirthoughts were similar, and that one could have known them without theexpenditure of the proverbial penny. 

"I'll give it to him when I see him, " remarked Ben, thrusting the letterin his pocket. "It don't seem to be important. He ain't in London, atpresent, I don't think. "

"I shouldn't think it was important at all, " said Mrs. Tipping, soothingly. 

"Not at all, " echoed her daughter, whose cheek was burning withexcitement. "Good-night, Mr. Brown. "

Ben bade them good-night, and in his capacity of host walked up thewharf with them and saw them depart. 

"Nice little thing, ain't she?" said the watchman who was standingthere, after Mrs. Tipping had bidden the mate good-bye; "be careful wotyou're a-doin' of, Ben. Don't go and spile yourself by a early marriage, just as you're a-beginning to get on in life. Besides, a mate might dobetter than that, and she'd only marry you for your persition. "

CHAPTER XII. 

In happy ignorance of the changes caused by his sudden and tragic end, Captain Flower sat at the open window of his shabby Walworth lodging, smoking an after-breakfast pipe, and gazing idly into the dismal, littered yard beneath. Time--owing to his injured foot, which, neatlybandaged at a local dispensary, rested upon a second chair--hung ratherheavily upon his hands as he sat thinking of ways and means of spendingthe next six months profitably and pleasantly. He had looked at theoleographs on the walls until he was tired, and even the marvels of thewax fruit under a cracked glass shade began to pall upon him. 

"I'll go and stay in the country a bit, " he muttered; "I shall chokehere. "

He took a slice of bread from the tray, and breaking it into smallpieces, began to give breakfast to three hens which passed a precariousexistence in the yard below. 

"They get quite to know you now, " said the small but shrewd daughter ofthe house, who had come in to clear the breakfast things away. "How'dyou like your egg?"

"Very good, " said Flower. 

"It was new laid, " said the small girl. 

She came up to the window and critically inspected the birds. "She laidit, " she said, indicating one of the three. 

"She's not much to look at, " said Flower, regarding the weirdest-lookingof the three with some interest. 

"She's a wonderful layer, " said Miss Chiffers, "and as sharp as you make'em. When she's in the dust-bin the others 'ave to stay outside. Theycan go in when she's 'ad all she wants. "

"I don't think I'll have any more eggs, " said Flower, casually. "I'meating too much. Bacon'll do by itself. "

"Please yourself, " said Miss Chiffers, turning from the window. "How'syour foot?"

"Better, " said Flower. 

"It's swelled more than it was yesterday, " she said, with ill-concealedsatisfaction. 

"It feels better, " said the captain. 

"That's 'cos it's goin' dead, " said the damsel; "then it'll go black allup your leg, and then you'll 'ave to 'ave it orf. "

Flower grinned comfortably. 

"You may larf, " said the small girl, severely; "but you won't larf whenyou lose it, an' all becos you won't poultice it with tea leaves. "

She collected the things together on a tea tray of enormous size, andholding it tightly pressed to her small waist, watched with anxious eyesas the heavy articles slowly tobogganed to the other end. A knife felloutside the door, and the loaf, after a moment's hesitation whichnearly upset the tray, jumped over the edge and bounded downstairs. 

Flower knocked the ashes out of his pipe, and slowly refilling it, beganto peruse the morning paper, looking in vain, as he had looked eachmorning, for an account of his death. 

His reading was interrupted by a loud knock at the street door, andhe threw down the paper to be ready to receive the faithful Fraser. He heard the door open, and then the violent rushing upstairs of MissChiffers to announce his visitor. 

"Somebody to see you, Mr. Norton, " she panted, bursting into the room. 

"Well, show him up, " said Flower. 

"All of 'em?" demanded Miss Chiffers. 

"Is there more than one?" enquired Flower in a startled voice. 

"Three, " said Miss Chiffers, nodding; "two gentlemen and a lady. "

"Did they say what their names were?" enquired the other, turning verypale. 

Miss Chiffers shook her head, and then stooped to pick up a hairpin. "One of 'em's called Dick, " she said, replacing the pin. 

"Tell them I'm not at home, " said Flower, hastily, "but that I shall beback at twelve o'clock, See?"

He produced a shilling, and the small girl, with an appreciativenod, left the room, and closed the door behind her. Flower, sufferingseverely from nervous excitement, heard a discussion in the passagebelow, and then sounds of a great multitude coming upstairs and openingvarious doors on its way, in spite of the indignant opposition affordedby the daughter of the house. 

"What's in here?" enquired a well-known voice, as a hand was placed onhis door handle. 

"Nothing, " said Miss Chiffers; "'ere, you go away, that's my bedroom. Goaway, d'you 'ear?"

There was the sound of a diminutive scuffle outside, then the dooropened and a smartly-dressed young man, regardless of the fair form ofMiss Chiffers, which was coiled round his leg, entered the room. 

"Why, Dick, " said the skipper, rising, "Dick! Thank goodness it's you. "

"I've no doubt you're delighted, " said Mr. Tipping, coldly. "What areyou doing with that knife?"

"I thought it was somebody else, " said Flower, putting it down. "Ithought it was another attempt on my life. "

Mr. Tipping coughed behind his hand and murmured something inaudibly ashis sister entered the room, followed by the third member of the party. 

"Oh, Fred!" she said, wildly, "I wonder you can look me in the face. Where have you been all this time? Where have you been?"

"Give the man time to think, " said her brother, exchanging a glance withthe other man. 

"I've been everywhere, " said Flower, facing them defiantly. "I've beenhunted all over the country. "

"But where did you go when you left me that day?" enquired Miss Tipping. 

"It's a long story, " said Flower, slowly. "But you got the letter Iwrote you?"

Miss Tipping shook her head. 

"You didn't get it?" said Flower, in surprise. "I can't think what youmust have thought of me. "

"I'll tell you what I thought of you, if you'd like to know, "interrupted Mr. Tipping, eagerly. 

"I wrote to you to explain, " said Flower, glibly "I went abroadsuddenly, called away at a moment's notice. "

"Special trains and all that sort o' thing, I s'pose, " said Mr. Tipping, with interest. 

"Dick, " said Miss Tipping, fiercely. 

"Well, " said Dick, gruffly. 

"Hold your tongue. "

"I've not had any real sleep since, " said Flower, pathetically, "whatwith the danger and thinking of you. "

"Why didn't you write again?" enquired Miss Tipping. 

"I asked you to write to a certain address in that letter I sent you, "said Flower, "and when I came back to England and found there was noletter, I concluded that you couldn't forgive me. "

Miss Tipping looked at him reproachfully, but Mr. Tipping, raising hiseyes, gasped for air. 

"But who are these enemies?" asked Miss Tipping, tenderly drawing closerto Flower. 

"A man in the Government service----" began the captain. 

He broke off disdainfully until such time as Mr. Tipping should haveconquered a somewhat refractory cough. 

"In the secret service, " continued Flower, firmly, "has got enemies allround him. "

"You'll have to get something else to do when we are married, Fred, "said Miss Tipping, tearfully. 

"You've forgiven me, then?" said Flower, hoping that he had concealed anervous start. 

"I'd forgive you anything, Fred, " said Miss Tipping, tenderly; "you'llhave to give up this job at once. "

Captain Flower shook his head and smiled mournfully, thereby intimatingthat his services were of too valuable a nature for any Government tolightly dispense with. 

"May I come round and see you to-morrow?" he enquired, putting his armabout the lady's waist. 

"Come round to-morrow?" repeated Miss Tipping, in surprise; "why, youdon't think I'm going to leave you here surrounded by dangers? You'recoming home with us now. "

"No, to-morrow, " said the unhappy mariner, in a winning voice. 

"You don't go out of my sight again, " said Miss Tipping, firmly. "Dick, you and Fred shake hands. "

The two gentlemen complied. Both were somewhat proud of their grip, and a bystander might have mistaken their amiable efforts to crush eachother's fingers for the outward and visible signs of true affection. 

"You'd better settle up here now, Fred, " said Miss Tipping. 

Flower, putting the best face he could upon it, assented with a tendersmile, and, following them downstairs, held a long argument with Mrs. Chiffers as to the amount due, that lady having ideas upon the subjectwhich did more credit to her imagination than her arithmetic. 

The bill was settled at last, and the little party standing on the stepswaited for the return of Miss Chiffers, who had been dispatched for afour-wheeler. 

"Oh, what about your luggage, Fred?" enquired Miss Tipping, suddenly. 

"Haven't got any, " said Flower, quickly. "I managed to get away withwhat I stand up in, and glad to do that. "

Miss Tipping squeezed his arm and leaned heavily upon his shoulder. 

"I was very lucky to get off as I did, " continued the veraciousmariner. "I wasn't touched except for a rap over my foot with thebutt-end of a revolver. I was just over the wall in time. "

"Poor fellow, " said Miss Tipping, softly, as she shivered and looked upinto his face. "What are you grinning at, Dick?"

"I s'pose a fellow may grin if he likes, " said Mr. Tipping, suddenlybecoming serious. 

"This is the first bit of happiness I've had since I saw you last, "murmured Flower. 

Miss Tipping squeezed his arm again. 

"It seems almost too good to be true, " he continued. "I'm almost afraidI shall wake up and find it all a dream. "

"Oh, you're wide-awake enough, " said Mr. Tipping. 

"Wide-awake ain't the word for it, " said the other gentleman, shakinghis head. 

"Uncle, " said Miss Tipping, sharply. 

"Yes, my dear, " said the other, uneasily. 

"Keep your remarks for those that like them, " said his dutiful niece, "or else get out and walk. "

Mr. Porson, being thus heckled, subsided into defiant mutterings, intended for Dick Tipping's ear alone, and the remainder of the drive toChelsea passed almost in silence. Arrived at the Blue Posts, Flower gotout with well-simulated alacrity, and going into the bar, shook handsheartily with Mrs. Tipping before she quite knew what he was doing. 

"You've got him, then, " she said, turning to her daughter, "and now Ihope you're satisfied. Don't stand in the bar; I can't say what I wantto say here--come in the parlour and shut the door. "

They followed the masterful lady obediently into the room indicated. 

"And now, Mr. Robinson, " she said, with her hands on her hips, "now foryour explanation. "

"I have explained to Matilda, " said Flower, waving his hand. 

"That's quite right, mar, " said Miss Tipping, nodding briskly. 

"He's had a dreadful time, poor feller, " said Dick Tipping, unctuously. "He's been hunted all over England by--who was it, Mister Robinson?"

"The parties I'm working against, " said Flower, repressing his choler bya strong effort. 

"The parties he's working against, " repeated Mr. Tipping. 

"Somebody ought to talk to them parties, " said Mr. Porson, speaking withmuch deliberation, "that is, if they can find 'em. "

"They want looking after, that's what they want, " said Dick Tipping, with a leer. 

"It's all very well for you to make fun of it, " said Mrs. Tipping, raising her voice. "I like plain, straightforward dealing folk myself. Idon't under-stand nothing about your secret services and Governmentsand all that sort of thing. Mr. Robinson, have you come back prepared tomarry my daughter? Because, if you ain't, we want to know why not. "

"Of course I have, " said Flower, hotly. "It's the dearest wish of mylife. I should have come before, only I thought when she didn't answermy letter that she had given me up. "

"Where 'ave you been, and what's it all about?" demanded Mrs. Tipping. 

"At present, " said Flower, with an appearance of great firmness, "Ican't tell you. I shall tell Matilda the day after we're married--ifshe'll still trust me and marry me--and you shall all know as soon as wethink it's safe. "

"You needn't say another word, mar, " said Miss Tipping, warningly. 

"I'm sure, " said the elder lady, bridling. "Perhaps your uncle wouldlike to try and reason with you. "

Mr. Porson smiled in a sickly fashion, and cleared his throat. 

"You see, my dear--" he began. 

"Your tie's all shifted to one side, " said his niece, sternly, "and thestud's out of your buttonhole. I wish you'd be a little tidier when youcome here, uncle; it looks bad for the house. "

"I came away in a hurry to oblige you, " said Mr. Porson. "I don't thinkthis is a time to talk about button-holes. "

"I thought you were going to say something, " retorted Miss Tipping, scathingly, "and you might as well talk about that as anything else. "

"It ain't right, " said Mrs. Tipping, breaking in, "that you should marrya man you don't know anything about; that's what I mean. That's onlyreasonable, I think. "

"It's quite fair, " said Flower, trying hard to speak reluctantly. "Ofcourse, if Matilda wishes, I'm quite prepared to go away now. I don'twish her to tie herself up to a man who at present, at any rate, has togo about wrapped in a mystery. "

"All the same, " said Mrs. Tipping, with a gleam in her eyes, "I'm notgoing to have anybody playing fast and loose with my daughter. She's gotyour ring on her finger. You're engaged to be married to her, and youmustn't break it off by running away or anything of that kind. If shelikes to break it off, that's a different matter. "

"I'm not going to break it off, " said Miss Tipping, fiercely; "I've madeall the arrangements in my own mind. We shall get married as soon as wecan, and I shall put Dick in here as manager, and take a nice little inndown in the country somewhere. "

"Mark my words, " said Mrs. Tipping, solemnly, "you'll lose him again. "

"If I lose him again, " said Miss Tipping, dramatically, "if he'sspirited away by these people, or anything happens to him, Dick won't bemanager here. Uncle Porson will have as much drink and as many cigars ashe pays for, and Charlie will find another berth. "

"Nobody shall hurt a hair of his head, " said Mr. Tipping, withinimitable pathos. 

"He must be protected against hisself, " said Mr. Porson, spitefully;"that's the 'ardest part. He's a man what if 'e thinks it's his dooty'll go away just as 'e did before. "

"Well if he gets away from Charlie, " said Mr. Tipping, "he'll be cute. There's one thing, Mr. Robinson: if you try to get away from those wholove you and are looking after you, there'll be a fight first, thenthere'll be a police court fuss, and then we shall find out what theGovernment mean by it. "

Captain Flower sat down in an easy posture as though he intended a longstay, and in a voice broken with emotion murmured something about home, and rest, and freedom from danger. 

"That's just it, " said Mrs. Tipping, "here you are, and here you'llstay. After you're married, it'll be Matilda's affair; and now let'shave some tea. "

"First of all, mar, kiss Fred, " said Miss Tipping, who had been eyeingher parent closely. 

Mrs. Tipping hesitated, but the gallant captain, putting a good face onit, sprang up and, passing his arm about her substantial waist, salutedher, after which, as a sort of set-off, he kissed Miss Tipping. 

"I can only say, " he said truthfully, "that this kindness hurts me. Theday I'm married I'll tell you all. "

CHAPTER XIII. 

In happy ignorance that the late master of the _Foam_ had secured asuite of rooms at the Blue Posts Hotel, the late mate returned to Londonby train with a view of getting into communication with him as soonas possible. The delay occasioned by his visit to Bittlesea was notregretted, Mr. Fraser senior having at considerable trouble and expensearranged for him to take over the _Swallow_ at the end of the week. 

Owing to this rise in his fortune he was in fairly good spirits, despitethe slur upon his character, as he made his way down to the wharf. Thehands had knocked off work for the day, and the crew of the schooner, having finished their tea, were sprawling in the bows smoking in suchattitudes of unstudied grace as best suited the contours of theirfigures. Joe looked up as he approached, and removing his pipe murmuredsomething inaudible to his comrades. 

"The mate's down below, sir, " said Mr. William Green in reply to Fraser. "I shall be pleased to fetch him. "

He walked aft and returned shortly, followed by Ben, who, standingstiffly before his predecessor, listened calmly to his eager enquiryabout his letter. 

"No, there's been nothing for you, " he said, slowly. He had dropped theletter overboard as the simplest way of avoiding unpleasantness. "Wasyou expecting one?"

Fraser, gazing blankly at him, made no reply, being indeed staggered bythe thoroughness with which he imagined the wily Flower was playing hispart. 

"He's going to be lost his full six months, that's evident, " he thought, in consternation. "He must have seen the way I should be affected; itwould serve him right to tell the whole thing right away to CaptainBarber. "

"If anything does come I'll send it on to you, " said Ben, who had beenwatching him closely. 

"Thanks, " said Fraser, pondering, and walked away with his eyes on theground. He called in at the office as he passed it; the staff had gone, but the letter-rack which stood on the dusty, littered mantel-piece wasempty, and he went into the street again. 

His programme for the evening thus suddenly arrested, he walked slowlyup Tower Hill into the Minories, wondering what to do with himself. Something masquerading as a conscience told him severely that heought to keep his promise to the errant Flower and go and visit Poppy;conscience without any masquerading at all told him he was a humbug, anddisclaimed the responsibility. In the meantime, he walked slowly in thedirection of Poplar, and having at length made up a mind which had beenindulging in civil war all the way, turned up Liston Street and knockedat the Wheelers' door. 

A murmur of voices' from the sitting-room stopped instantly. A doubleknock was a rare occurrence on that door, and was usually the preludeto the sudden disappearance of the fairer portion of the family, whilea small boy was told off to answer it, under dire penalties if heofficiated too soon. 

This evening, however, the ladies had made their toilet, and the doorwas opened after a delay merely sufficient to enable them to try andguess the identity of the guest before the revelation. Poppy Tyrellopened it, and turned upon him eyes which showed the faintest trace ofsurprise. 

"Good evening, " said Fraser, holding out his hand. 

"Good evening, " said the girl. 

"Fine weather we're having, " said the embarrassed ex-mate, "for June, "he added, in justification of the remark. 

Miss Tyrell assented gravely, and stood there waiting. 

It is probable that two members at least of the family would have beengratified by the disappearance of the caller then and there, but thatMr. Wheeler, a man of great density and no tact whatever, came bustlingout into the passage, and having shaken hands in a hearty fashion, toldhim to put his hat on a nail and come in. 

"No news of the cap'n, I suppose?" he asked, solemnly, after Fraser wascomfortably seated. 

"Not a word, " was the reply. 

The dock-foreman sighed and shook his head as he reflected on theinstability of human affairs. "There's no certainty about anything, " hesaid, slowly. "Only yesterday I was walking down the Commercial Road, and I slipped orf the curb into the road before you could say JackRobinson. "

"Nearly run over?" queried Fraser. 

Mr. Wheeler shook his head. "No, " he said, quietly. 

"Well, what of it?" enquired his son. 

"It might just as well have been the edge of the dock as the curb;that's what I mean, " said Mr. Wheeler, with a gravity befitting hisnarrow escape. 

"I'm alwis telling you not to walk on the edge, father, " said his wife, uneasily. 

The dock-foreman smiled faintly. "Dooty must be done, " he said, in afirm voice. "I'm quite prepared, my life's insured, and I'm on the club, and some o' the children are getting big now, that's a comfort. "

A feeling of depression settled on all present, and Augustus Wheeler, aged eight, having gleaned from the conversation that his sire hadreceived instructions, which he intended promptly to obey, to fallinto the dock forthwith, suddenly opened his mouth and gave vent to hisaffection and despair in a howl so terrible that the ornaments on themantelpiece shook with it. 

"Don't scold 'im, " said the dock-foreman, tenderly, as Mrs. Wheeler'sthin, shrill voice entered into angry competition with the howl; "nevermind, Gussie, my boy, never mind. "

This gentleness had no effect, Gussie continuing to roar with muchardour, but watching out of the corner of one tear-suffused eye theefforts of his eldest sister to find her pocket. 

"Hold your noise and I'll give you a ha'penny, " she said, tartly. 

Gussie caught his breath with a sob, but kept steam up, having on somesimilar occasions been treated with more diplomacy than honesty. Butto-day he got the half-penny, together with a penny from the visitor, and, having sold his concern in his father for three halfpence, gloatedtriumphantly in a corner over his envious peers. 

"Death, " said Mr. Wheeler, slowly, after silence had been restored, "isalways sudden. The most sudden death I knew 'appened to a man who'd been_dying_ for seven years. Nobody seemed to be able to believe he'd goneat last. "

"It's a good job he wasn't married, " said Mrs. Wheeler, raising herselfon her elbow; "sailors 'ave no right to marry at all. If I thoughtthat one 'o my gals was goin' to marry a sailor, I don't know what Ishouldn't do. Something steady on shore is the thing. "

"I don't know, " said the tactless Mr. Wheeler. "I think if I was a gal Ishould like to marry a sailor; there's something romantic about them. Ioften wish I'd been a sailor. "

"Then you wouldn't 'ave 'ad me, " said the lady from the sofa, grimly. 

Mr. Wheeler sighed, but whether at the thought of what he might havelost or what he had gained, cannot be safely determined. Still ina morbid mood, he relapsed into silence, leaving Fraser to glanceanxiously to where Poppy, pale and pretty, sat listening to the clumsyovertures of Mr. Bob Wheeler. 

"I might 'ave 'ad two or three sailors if I'd liked, " continued Mrs. Wheeler, musingly, "but I wouldn't. "

Fraser murmured his admiration at her firmness. 

"There was Tom Rogers, 'e was the first, " said Mrs. Wheeler; "youremember 'im, father?"

"Chap with bow legs and a squint, wasn't he?" said the dock-foreman, anxious to please. 

"I never saw 'im squint, " said his wife, sharply. "Then there was RobertMoore--he was number two, I think. "

"'Ad a wife a'ready, " said Mr. Wheeler, turning to the visitor; "'e wasa bright lot, 'e was. "

"I don't know what they saw in me, I'm sure, " said Mrs. Wheeler, with alittle modest laugh; "it wasn't my good looks, I'm sure. "

"You 'ad something better than good looks, my dear, " said thedock-foreman, affectionately, "something what's wore better. "

Mrs. Wheeler turned on the sofa, and detecting Gussie in the act ofusing his mouth as a moneybox, upbraided him shrilly and sent him intoa corner. She then brought sundry charges of omission and commissionagainst the other children, until the air was thick with denials andexplanations, in the midst of which Fraser turned towards Poppy. 

"I want to have a few minutes' talk with you, Miss Tyrell, " he said, nervously. 

The girl looked up at him. "Yes, " she said, gravely. 

"I mean alone, " continued the other, marvelling at his hardihood; "it'sprivate. "

He lowered his voice from a shout to its normal tone as Emma Wheeler inself-defence opened the door and drove the small fry out. 

"I've not got my rooms now, " said the girl, quietly. 

"Well, my dear--" began the dock-foreman. 

"Don't interfere, father, " said Mrs. Wheeler somewhat sharply. "I'm sureMr. Fraser needn't mind saying anything before us. It's nothing he'sashamed of, I'm sure. "

"Certainly not, " said Fraser, sternly, "but it's quite private for allthat. Will you put your hat on and come out a little way, Miss Tyrell?"

"That I'm sure she won't, " said the energetic Mrs. Wheeler. "She's thatparticular she won't even go out with Bob, and they're like brother andsister almost. Will she, Bob?"

Mr. Bob Wheeler received the appeal somewhat sullenly, and in a lowvoice requested his parent not to talk so much. Fraser, watching Poppyclosely, saw with some satisfaction a tinge of colour in her cheek, and what in any other person he would have considered a very obstinateappearance about her shapely chin. 

"I'll get my hat on, if you'll wait a minute, " she said, quietly. 

She rose and went upstairs, and Fraser with a cheerful glance at Mrs. Wheeler entered into conversation with her husband about overside workin the docks, until the door was pushed open a little to reveal MissTyrell ready for walking. 

They walked on for some little time in silence. The sun had set, and even in the close streets of Poplar the evening air was cool andrefreshing. When this fact had thoroughly impressed itself on Mr. Fraser's mind he communicated it to Miss Tyrell. 

"It's very pleasant, " she answered, briefly. "What was it you wanted totalk to me about?"

"About a lot of things, " said Fraser. "What a tremendous lot of childrenthere are about here. "

Miss Tyrell coldly admitted an obvious fact, and stepping out intothe road to avoid spoiling a small maiden's next move at "hop scotch, "returned to the pavement to listen to a somewhat lengthy dissertationupon the game in question. 

"What did you want to say to me?" she asked at length, turning andregarding him. 

"In the first place, " said Fraser, "I wanted to tell you that, thoughnothing has been heard of Captain Flower, I feel certain in my own mindthat he has not been drowned. "

Miss Tyrell shook her head slowly. 

"Then I ought to tell you that I have left the _Foam_" continued theother. "I think that there is some idea that I knocked Flower overboardto get his place. "

The girl turned quickly, and her face flushed. "How absurd, " she said, indignantly, and her manner softened. 

"Thank you, " said Fraser. "If you don't believe it, I don't care whatanybody else thinks. "

Miss Tyrell, looking straight in front of her, stole a glance at thiseasily satisfied young man from the corner of her eye. "I should neverexpect to hear of you doing anything wicked, " she said. Fraser thankedher again, warmly. "Or venturesome, " added Miss Tyrell, thoughtfully. "You're not the kind. "

They walked on in silence; indignant silence on the part of the ex-mate. 

"Then you are out of a berth?" said Poppy, not unkindly. 

Fraser shook his head and explained. "And I told my father about you, "he added, nervously. "He knew Flower very well, and he told me to saythat he would be very pleased and proud if you would come down and staywith him at Bittlesea for a time. "

"No, thank you, " said Miss Tyrell. 

"The air would do you good, " persisted Fraser; "you could come down bytrain or come down with me on the _Swallow_ next week. "

Miss Tyrell repeated her refusal. "I must stay in London and getsomething else to do, " she said, quietly. 

"What do you think of doing?" enquired Fraser. 

"Anything I can get, " was the reply. 

"And in the meantime----" he began, nervously. 

"In the meantime I'm living on the Wheelers, " said the girl, pressingher lips together; "that was what you were going to say, wasn't it?"

"I was not going to say anything of the kind, " said Fraser, warmly. "Iwas not thinking of it. "

"Well, it's true, " said Poppy, defiantly. 

"It isn't true, " said Fraser, "because you will pay them back. "

"Shall we turn back?" said the girl. 

Fraser turned and walked beside her, and, glancing furtively at thepale, proud face, wondered how to proceed. 

"I should be delighted if you would come to Bittlesea, " he said, earnestly, "and I'm sure if Flower should ever turn up again, he wouldsay it was the best thing you could have done. "

"Thank you, but I prefer to stay here, " was the reply, "and I don't wishto be ungrateful, but I wish that people would not trouble me with theircharity. "

She walked on in silence, with her face averted, until they reachedListon Street, and, stopping at the door, turned to bid him good-bye. Her face softened as she shook hands, and in the depths of her dark eyesas they met his he fancied that he saw a little kindness. Then the dooropened, and, before he could renew his invitation, closed behind her asrapidly as Mr. Bob Wheeler could perform the feat. 

CHAPTER XIV. 

When the tide is up and the sun shining, Sea-bridge has attractionswhich make the absence of visitors something of a marvel tothe inhabitants. A wandering artist or two, locally known as"painter-chaps, " certainly visit it, but as they usually select subjectsfor their canvases of which the progressive party of the town areheartily ashamed, they are regarded as spies rather than visitors, andare tolerated rather than welcomed. To a citizen who has for a scoreof years regretted the decay of his town, the spectacle of a strangergloating over its ruins and perpetuating them on canvas is calculated toexcite strong doubts as to his mental capacity and his fitness to be atlarge. 

On a summer's evening, when the tide is out and the high ground theother side of the river is assuming undefinable shadows, the littletown has other charms to the meditative man. Such life as there is, isconfined to the taverns and the two or three narrow little streetswhich comprise the town. The tree-planted walk by the river is almostdeserted, and the last light of the dying day is reflected in the poolsand mud left by the tide. 

Captain Nibletts, slowly pacing along and smoking his pipe in theserenity of the evening, felt these things dimly. His gaze wanderedfrom a shadowy barge crawling along in mid-channel to the cheery redblind of Boatman's Arms, and then to the road in search of CaptainBarber, for whom he had been enquiring since the morning. A stout ladystricken in years sat on a seat overlooking the river, and the mariner, with a courteous salutation, besought her assistance. 

"I've been looking for him myself, " said Mrs. Banks, breathlessly, "andnow my Elizabeth's nowhere to be found. She's been out since two o'clockthis afternoon. "

Nibletts pointed up the road with his pipe. "I see her only ten minutesago with young Gibson, " he said, slowly. 

"Which way was they going?" demanded the old lady, rising. 

"I don't know, " said Nibletts. "I don't think they knew either an'what's more, I don't think they cared. "

The old lady resumed her seat, and, folding her hands in her lap, gazedin a troubled fashion across the river, until the figure of anotherwoman coming along the walk brought her back to every-day affairs. 

"Why, it's Mrs. Church, " said Nibletts. "He's nowhere to be found, " heshouted, before she reached them. 

"He?" said the widow, slowly. "Who?"

"Cap'n Barber, " replied the mariner. 

"Oh, indeed, " she said, politely. "Good evening, Mrs. Banks. "

Mrs. Banks returned the courtesy. "It looks as though Cap'n Barber hasrun away, " she said, with attempted jocularity. 

Mrs. Church smiled a superior smile. "He is not far off, " she said, quietly. 

"Resting, I suppose, " said Mrs. Banks, with intent. 

Mrs. Church took higher ground. "Of course this sad affair has upset himterribly, " she said, gravely. "His is a faithful nature, and he can'tfor-get. How is Miss Banks bearing up?"

Mrs. Banks, looking up suspiciously, said, "Wonderful, considering, "and relapsed into silence until such time as her foe should give heran opening. Mrs. Church took a seat by her side, and Nibletts, with afeeling of something strained in the atmosphere, for which he could notaccount, resumed his walk. 

He was nearly up to Captain Barber's house when he saw a figure come outof the lane by the side, and after glancing furtively in all directionsmake silently for the door. The watching Nibletts quickening his pace, reached it at almost the same moment. 

"Mrs. Banks is looking for you, " he said, as he followed him into theparlour. 

Captain Barber turned on him a weary eye, but made no reply. 

"And Mrs. Church, too; at least, I think so, ' continued the other. 

"Cap'n Nibletts, " said the old man, slowly, "I 'ope you'll never livelong enough to be run arter in the way I'm run arter. "

The astonished mariner murmured humbly that he didn't think it was atall likely, and also that Mrs. Nibletts would probably have a word ortwo to say in the matter. 

"From the moment I get up to the moment I get to bed, I'm run arter, "continued the hapless Barber. "Mrs. Church won't let me go out of 'ersight if she can help it, and Mrs. Banks is as bad as she is. Whilethey was saying nice things to each other this morning in a nasty way Imanaged to slip out. "

"Well, why not get rid o' Mrs. Church?" said the simple Nibletts. 

"Rid o' Mrs. Church!" repeated Captain Barber, aghast; "why don't youget rid o' your face, Nibletts?" he asked, by way of comparison merely. 

"Because I don't want to, " replied the other, flushing. 

"Because you _can't_" said Captain Barber, emphatically. "And no morecan't I get rid of 'er. You see, I 'appened to take a little notice of'er. "

"Oh, well, " said the other, and sighed and shook his headdiscouragingly. 

"I took a little notice of 'er, " repeated Captain Barber, "and thento spare her feelings I 'ad to sort o' let 'er know that I could nevermarry for Fred's sake, d'ye see? Then on top of all that poor Fred goesand gets drownded. "

"But have you promised to marry her?" asked Nibletts, with a cunninglook. 

"Of course I've not, " rejoined Captain Barber, testily; "but when youknow as much about wimmen as I do, you'll know that that's got nothingto do with it. It gets took for granted. Mrs. Church's whole manner tome now is that of a engaged young person. If she was sitting here nowshe'd put 'er hand on top o' mine. "

"Not before me?" said Nibletts, in a shocked voice. 

"Before the Prince of Wales and all the Royal Family, " replied CaptainBarber, with conviction. "You've no idea how silly and awkward it makesme feel. "

"Here she comes, " said Nibletts, in a low voice, "and Mrs. Banks and herdaughter, too. "

Captain Barber coughed and, sitting upright, strove to look unconcernedas the three ladies came into the room and expressed their pleasure atseeing him. 

"I couldn't think what 'ad happened to you, " said Mrs. Banks, as shesank panting into a chair, and, unfastening her bonnet-strings, satregarding him with her hands on her knees. 

"I knew he was all right, " said Mrs. Church, folding her hands andregarding him with her head on one side; "if anything happened to him Ishould know if he was a hundred miles away. "

She sat down by Captain Barber, and laying her hand upon his, pressedit affectionately. The captain, a picture of misery, exchanged asignificant glance with Nibletts, and emitted an involuntary groan. 

"Don't take on so, " said Mrs. Banks, compassionately. "Do you know, I'vegot a feeling that poor Fred has been saved!"

"That's my feeling, too, " said Captain Barber, in a firm voice. 

"It's very likely, " said Captain Nibletts, slowly. 

"What's easier than for him to have been picked up by a passing vessel, and carried off goodness knows where?" enquired Mrs. Banks, with aglance evenly distributed between her daughter and the housekeeper. 

"I heard of a man once who fell overboard, " said Captain Nibletts, softly, "and he turned up safe and sound twenty years arter. "

"Married man?" enquired Miss Banks, softly. 

"He was, " said the captain, with the doggedness of a witness undercross-examination. 

Mrs. Church turned her eyes upwards. "Fancy the joyful meeting ofhusband and wife, " she said, sentimentally. 

"She died just two days afore he turned up, " said Captain Nibletts, simply. 

There was a frigid silence during which the three ladies, sinking fora time their differences, eyed him with every sign of strongdisapprobation, Mrs. Banks giving vent to a sniff which disparaged thewhole race of man. 

"As for men who fall overboard and get picked up and turn up monthsafterwards, " continued the faithful Nibletts, "why, every sailormanknows scores of 'em. "

"I knowed seven, " said Captain Barber, with the exactness of untruth. "They didn't seem to think much of it, didn't seem to think it anythingunusual, I mean. "

"It ain't, " said Nibletts, stoutly. 

The room relapsed into silence, and Captain Nibletts, finding Mrs. Church's gaze somewhat trying got up to admire a beautiful oil paintingon glass in a black frame which hung over the mantelpiece, and after afew encomiums on his host's taste, bade him good-bye. 

"I'm coming with you, " said Barber, rising; "I've got some business totalk about. "

"What, out again, " said Mrs. Church, tenderly, "after being on your poorfeet all day?"

Captain Barber murmured something inaudible in reply, and taking his hatfrom the sideboard went out with Nibletts, For a time they trudged alongin silence until the latter, who wanted to go to his own home, venturedto ask where they were going. 

"All places are alike to me, " replied the old man, dismally. "I onlywant to get away, that's all. She an' Mrs. Banks are sure to have a turnand try and drag me into it. "

He clasped his hands behind his back, and, pausing at a turn of theroad, looked down upon the little quay below. Out in the river two orthree small craft rode at anchor, while a bauble of cheerful voices froma distant boat only served to emphasise the stillness of the evening. 

"Looks quiet, " said Captain Nibletts, after watching him for some time. 

"I'm thinking of my nevy, " said Captain Barber, slowly. "I remember mean' my sister bringing 'im here when he was three year old, and I 'adto carry him all the way back. He put his arms round my neck, and I cansmell peppermint-ball now. "

Captain Nibletts, who did not quite follow him, attributed the outrageto a young couple who had just passed. 

"I'm all alone now, " continued Captain Barber, unheeding, "but Idon't want to marry. Why not? 'Cos I'm too old, and because it's likebeginning where other people leave off. "

"Well, make up your mind and tell her so, " said the other. 

"It wouldn't do any good, " said Barber, dolefully. 

"Tell her to-night, " said Nibletts, "Come into the Thorn and have aglass, just so as to warm you up to it, and then get it over. "

Captain Barber made no reply, but turning round led the way slowly backto the inn, and after acknowledging the respectful salutations of thecrew of the schooner who were in the bar by ordering the landlady tofill their pots again, led the way into the parlour and began to chargehimself for the interview. 

That he did not underestimate the difficulties of the ordeal wasevident by the extent of his orders, and Captain Nibletts noted withsatisfaction as the evening wore on that the old man's spirits wereimproving considerably. Twice he sent out instructions to the bar tohave the men's mugs replenished, a proceeding which led to Mr. WilliamGreen being sent by the grateful crew to express their feelings in aneat little speech. 

"A very nice-spoken young fellow, " said Captain Barber, approvingly. 

He had some more whisky, and at the sounds of a step-dance on the brickfloor of the adjoining taproom, took up his glass, and, followed byNibletts, watched the proceedings from the doorway. Mr. William Green, who worshipped wealth and position, sidled up to him, and with muchdeference discussed the dancing. 

He made such a favourable impression that Cap-tain Barber, who was in asemi-maudlin mood, took him by the arm to the now deserted parlour, andensconcing him in a corner, told him all his troubles and warned him ofthe pitfalls which beset the feet of good-looking bachelors. Mr. Greenwas sympathy itself, and for some time sat silently evolving variousschemes for the deliverance of his patron. 

Captain Nibletts returning to the parlour a little later found themin close consultation. A ray of hope illuminated the somewhat heavyfeatures of the old man, and, catching sight of the captain, he beckonedhim to his side. 

"Me an' this young man have thought of something, " he said, in a voicerendered husky with excitement. 

Nibletts waited. 

"He's goin' to call at my place, " continued the other, "and tell Mrs. Church that I've been took unwell at the Cauliflower at Mapleden, andwant to see her, and he's to bring her there at once. Arter they'vestarted I go in and get to bed, and earthquakes wouldn't wake me, letalone a knock at the door. D'ye see?"

"What good's that goin' to do?" enquired the astonished listener. 

"Next day, " said Barber, in thrilling tones, as he placed his forefingeron the other's arm, "I refuse to believe her story. Green, here, deniesof it too, and sez 'e saw her at the gate and asked her to go for a walkwith him. "

Captain Nibletts fingered his beard. "It don't seem to be the sort oftrick to play on a woman, " he expostulated, "an' it's four miles toMapleden. What's she goin' to do?"

"That's 'er lookout, " observed Captain Barber, with much composure, "allI know is she won't wake me. I daresay she'll come on to your place. Wimmen wot sets their caps at men wot don't want 'em set at 'em must putup with the consequences. "

"You give me half an hour, sir, " said Mr. Green, impressively, "andthen you can come on as soon as you like. You'll find the coast clear bythen. "

He bit off the end of the cigar presented by Captain Barber, and, thanking him effusively as he struck a match for him, quitted the inn. The two captains waited restlessly for the time specified, and then, finishing their drinks, went outside, and, standing in the light whichstreamed from the windows and doorway of the Thorn, gazed at the darkroad beyond. 

"It looks all right, " said Barber, shaking hands. "Good-night. "

"Good luck, " said Nibletts. 

The other, not without a little trepidation, walked towards his house, and opening the door, after a little difficulty, stood safely inside. The house was quiet and in darkness, except for the lamp which stood onthe parlour-table, and after a moment's survey he proceeded to shut upfor the night. 

As a rule he was careless about such matters, but to-night no gaolersaw to his bolts and bars more carefully than he did. He returned to theparlour, having made all secure, and lighting his pipe for a few finalwhiffs before retiring, winked at himself solemnly in the glass. Thenfearful that the housekeeper might return sooner than was expected, heblew out the lamp and smoked in the dark. 

He knocked out his pipe at last, and walked slowly and ponderouslyupstairs. He grinned again as he passed the door of the housekeeper'sroom, and then, with a catch in his breath, clutched heavily at thebanister as a soft female voice bade him "Good-night. "

Captain Barber, surprised beyond all measure, was unable to speak. 

"I thought you'd got lost again, " said the voice, playfully. "Good-night. "

"Good-night, " rejoined the other, in hollow tones. "Mrs. Banks staylong?" he enquired, pausing at his door. 

"She went just about half an hour before you came in, " replied thehousekeeper. "Elizabeth went soon after you did, but her mother stoppedon. She went very suddenly when she did go, and was very mysteriousabout it. Not that I want to know her business. "

"Mysterious?" faltered the captain. 

"Some young man came to the door, " continued the innocent woman, "andthey were talking in a low voice. I don't know who it was, because Mrs. Banks let me see quite plainly that she didn't want me to know. Then shejust called out 'Goodnight, ' and went off as fast as you please. "

Captain Barber supported himself for a moment by the handle of his door, and then in a dazed way blundered into his room. He was a good-heartedman in a way, and pushing open the little casement he thrust out hishead and sighed with genuine feeling as he thought of his poor oldfriend plodding slowly to Mapleden. Incidentally he felt a little bitsorry for Mr. William Green. 

He was awaked next morning after a somewhat restless night by the soundsof an unwonted noise downstairs, and lay in amazement listening to a humof excited voices below. Knuckles rapped on his door and the voice ofMrs. Church, much agitated, requested him to rise and attire himself. 

He was out of bed at that and looking from the window. A small groupof children stood in the road outside the house, while Joe and the cookwith their arms on the fence were staring hard at his parlour window, occasionally varying the proceedings by a little conversation with thepeople next door, who were standing in their front garden. In a state ofconsiderable agitation he hurriedly dressed himself and went downstairs. 

His sitting-room was full. Mrs. Banks, looking very tired, was sittingin the arm-chair taking smelling-salts at intervals, and staringfiercely at Mr. William Green, who was huddled in a corner smilingsheepishly behind Captain Nibletts and Ben. 

"What's all this?" demanded Captain Barber, in a trembling voice, as hiseye met Mr. Green's. 

Several of Mrs. Banks's relatives began speaking at once, assisted bysome of the neighbours. The substance of their remarks was that a man. Whose polite tongue hid the falseness of his heart, had lured Mrs. Banksfor a four-mile walk to Mapleden late the preceding night under thepretence that Captain Barber, who was evidently hale and hearty, waslying ill at the Cauliflower. They demanded his immediate dismissal fromthe ship and his exemplary punishment by the law. 

"What 'ave you got to say to this?" demanded Captain Barber of thevillain, in tones of righteous indignation tempered by fear. 

"It isn't true, sir, " said Mr. Green, respectfully. "I didn't sayanything of the kind. "

"Wot did you say, then?" enquired Captain Barber, in a voice which thecompany thought far too mild for the occasion. 

"She was standing at the door as I passed, " said Mr. Green, nervously, "and I asked her to go for a walk with me. "

"Lawk-a-mussy me!" screamed the horrified Mrs. Banks. 

"We went for a nice little stroll, " continued the graceless Mr. Green, "and then I s'pose she found it was later than she thought, and shebegan to make a fuss. "

"Me, at my time o' life?" demanded the indignant Mrs. Banks of theaudience. 

"You _did_ make a fuss, " said Mr. Green. 

"O' course I made a fuss when I found out how I had been deceived. Youwere here when he came, Mrs. Church, weren't you?"

"I would rather not say anything about it, " said the housekeeper, freezingly. 

"I insist upon your speaking, " said the old lady, getting very red inthe face. 

"Well, I don't know much about it, " said the housekeeper, looking roundappealingly. "I heard you speaking to somebody at the door in a lowvoice. "

"It wasn't a low voice, " interrupted Mrs. Banks, sharply. 

"Well, I couldn't hear what you were saying, and then when you wentoutside and I asked you whether you were going home you said 'yes, 'didn't you?"

"Are you sure she said she was going home?" said Mrs. Banks'sbrother-in-law, in an awful voice, as the old lady sank back in herchair. 

"Yes, " said Mrs. Church, with a fine show of reluctance. 

There was a dead silence, during which they all heard the smelling-saltsdrop. 

"If this man said Captain Barber was ill at Mapleden, why didn't youtell me?" continued Mrs. Church, in a mildly aggrieved voice. "I thinkif anybody ought to have known, it should have been me. "

"It's all a fuss about nothing, " said Mr. Green, brazenly. "She stayedout a bit too late, and then wanted to put it all on to me. "

A good Samaritan picked up the smelling-salts and held them to thevictim's nose, while her scandalized relatives discussed the situationin hurried whispers. The brother-in-law eyed her with bewildereddisapproval, and in the disjointed accents peculiar to surprise washeard to make use of the words "friskiness" and "gallivanting" and "oldenough to know better. "

Her relatives' remarks, however, caused Mrs. Banks comparatively littlepain. Her attention was fully taken up by the housekeeper, in whosesatisfied smile she saw a perfect recognition of the reasons for heraction of the previous evening. She got up from her chair, and with astateliness which her brother-in-law thought somewhat misplaced, tookher daughter's arm, and slowly left the room, her departure being thesignal for a general breakup. By twos and threes the company driftedslowly up the road in her wake, while Captain Barber, going in theother direction, accompanied Captain Nibletts and party as far as theschooner, in order that he might have the opportunity of sayinga few well-chosen words to Mr. Green on the subject of precipitancy. 

"If it 'adn't been for me tipping 'im the wink, so as to let him knowwhat line 'e was to go on when I came down, where should I 'ave been?"he demanded of Captain Nibletts. 

And that astonished mariner, with a helpless shake of his head, gave itup. 

CHAPTER XV. 

The Blue Posts, Chelsea, is an old-time public-house pleasantly situatedby the river, with an extensive connection amongst gentlemen's servants, 'busmen, and other skilled judges of good beer, the subtle and delicateperfume of which liquor pervades the place from cellar to basement, andhas more than once taken the policeman on duty to the back door, underthe impression that something wanted looking into. 

To some men imprisonment in such a place would have been little shortof ecstasy. In the heat of summer they would have sat in the coolcellar amid barrels of honest beer; in winter, they would have ledthe conversation cosily seated around the taproom fire. For exercise, profitable employment at the beer-engine in the bar; for intellectualexercise, the study of practical chemistry in the cellar. 

To Captain Fred Flower none of these things appealed. He had visitedthe cellar certainly--in search of subterranean exits; he had sat inthe tap-room--close to the open window; but his rabid desire to get awayfrom the place and never see it again could not have been surpassed bythe most bitter teetotaler that ever breathed. 

His greatest trouble was with Porson, whose limpet-like qualities werea source of never-failing concern to the unfortunate mariner. Did heascend to the drawing-room and gaze yearningly from the windows atthe broad stream of Father Thames and the craft dropping down on theebb-tide to the sea, Uncle Porson, sallow of face and unclean of collar, was there to talk beery romance of the ocean. Did he retire to the smallyard at the rear of the premises and gaze from the back door at thepassing life of a Chelsea by-street, Uncle Porson was looking over hisshoulder, pointing out milkmen with histories, and cabmen with a past. 

The second week of his stay was drawing to a close before he fullyrealised the horror of his position. His foot, which had been giving himconsiderable trouble, was getting much better, though it was by nomeans well enough to give him a chance in a foot-race with Mr. Porson orCharles, and as the family at the Blue Posts realised the improvement, the attentions of his personal attendants were redoubled. The key of hisbed-room door was turned every night after he had retired, a discoveryhe had made the first night after carefully dressing for flight andspending an hour over the composition of a farewell note to MissTipping. There was no chance of reaching the roof from his bed-roomwindow, and the pavement below offered him his choice between a weddingand a funeral. 

And amid all this the fiction was maintained of preserving him from hislawless foes and his own inconvenient devotion to duty. A strugglefor escape was not to be thought of, as the full measure of hisdeceitfulness would transpire in the event of failure, and the weddingdrew nearer day by day, while his active brain was still casting aboutin vain for any means of escape. 

"Next Tuesday, " said Mrs. Tipping to her stepdaughter, as they satin the much decorated drawing-room one afternoon, "you'll be Mrs. Robinson. "

Miss Tipping, who was sitting next to the skipper, looked at himlanguishingly, and put her head on his shoulder. 

"I can hardly believe it, " she said, coyly. 

Flower, who was in the same predicament, patted her head tenderly, asbeing easier than replying. 

"And I must say, " said Mrs. Tipping, regarding the pair, "I'm a plainwoman, and I speak my mind, that if it was me, I should want to knowmore about him first. "

"I'm quite satisfied, mar, " said Miss Tipping, without raising her head. 

"There's your relations to be satisfied, Matilda, " said Uncle Porson, inan important voice. 

Miss Tipping raised her head and favoured the interrupter with a balefulstare, whereupon Mr. Porson, scratching his neck feebly, glanced at Mrs. Tipping for support. 

"Our relations needn't come to see us, " said his niece, at length. "He'smarrying me, not my relations. "

"He's making me his uncle, at any rate, " said Mr. Porson, with a suddenaccess of dignity. 

"You don't mind, Fred, do you?" asked Miss Tipping, anxiously. 

"I'd put up with more than that for your sake, " said Flower. "I needn'ttell people. "

"That's all very fine, " said Mrs. Tipping, taking up the cudgels forthe speechless and glaring victim of these pleasantries, "but there's nomystery about your uncle; everybody knows _him_. _He_ doesn't disappearjust as he is going to get married, and be brought back in a cab monthsafterwards. _He_ isn't full of secrets he mustn't tell people who oughtto know. "

"Never kep' a secret in my life, " agreed Uncle Porson, whose head wasbuzzing under this unaccustomed praise. 

"I know quite eno'ugh about Fred, " said Miss Tipping, tenderly; "when Iwant your opinion, mar, I'll ask you for it. "

Mrs. Tipping's reply was interrupted by the entrance of a young manfrom the jeweller's with four brooches for Flower to present to thebridesmaids. Mrs. Tipping had chosen them, and it did not take thehapless skipper long to arrive at the conclusion that she was far fonderof bridesmaids than he was. His stock of money was beginning to dwindle, and the purchase of a second wedding suit within a month was beginningto tell even upon his soaring spirits. 

"There's another thing about Fred I don't quite like, " said Mrs. Tipping, as she sat with the brooches ranged upon her capacious lap;"he's extravagant. I don't like a mean man, but one who flings his moneyaway is almost as bad. These 'ere brooches are very pretty, and theydo him credit, but I can't say but what something cheaper wouldn't 'avedone as well. "

"I thought you liked them, " said the indignant Flower. 

"I like them well enough, " said Mrs. Tipping, solemnly; "there's nothingto dislike in them. Seems to me they must have cost a lot of money, that's all--I suppose I may make a remark!"

Flower changed the subject, and turning to Miss Tipping began to speakin a low voice of their new home. Miss Tipping wanted a sort of Edenwith bar improvements, and it was rather difficult to find. 

They had discussed the matter before, and the wily skipper had almostquarrelled with his bride-elect over the part of the country in whichthey were to live, Miss Tipping holding out for the east coast, whileFlower hotly championed the south. Mrs. Tipping, with some emphasis, had suggested leaving it until after the honeymoon, but a poeticadvertisement of an inn in Essex catching her daughter's eye, it wasdecided that instant inspection should be made. 

They travelled down from Fenchurch Street, accompanied by Dick and Mrs. Tipping, the skipper, who was painfully on the alert for any chance ofescape, making a great fuss of his foot, and confessing to a feelingof unusual indisposition. He sat in one corner of the carriage with hiseyes half closed, while Miss Tipping, with her arm affectionately drawnthrough his, was the unconscious means of preventing a dash for libertyas the train steamed slowly through a station. 

The nearest station to the Rose of Essex was five miles distant, a factwhich (owing perhaps to the expensive nature of newspaper charges) didnot appear in the advertisement. 

"It's a nice little place, " said the landlady of the Railway Hotel, asthey asked her opinion over lunch; "there's a little land goes with it. If you want to drive over, I'd better be having something got ready. "

Mrs. Tipping, who halved the duties with Flower, she doing the orderingand he the paying, assented, and in a short time they were bowlingrapidly along through narrow country lanes to their destination. Theskipper noticed with pleasure the lonely nature of the country, and hisheart beat fast as he thought of the chances of success of a little planof escape. 

So far as appearance went, the inn was excellent. Roses clustered roundthe porch and hung in fragrant bunches from the walls, while threeor four sturdy lime trees in one corner threw a grateful shade over arustic table and settles. Flower, with a grateful sigh, said that it wasthe very thing. Even Mrs. Tipping, after a careful inspection, said thatthey might do worse; Dick, with an air of professional gravity, devotedmost of his attention to the cellar, while the engaged couple walkedslowly round the immense garden in the rear exchanging tender whispers. 

"We'll think it over and let you know, " said Mrs. Tipping to thelandlord. 

"There's been a lot after it, " said he slowly, with a glance at hiswife. 

"And yet it ain't gone, " said the business-like Mrs. Tipping, pleasantly. 

"I'm going to take it, mar, " said Miss Tipping, firmly. 

Mrs. Tipping sighed at her haste, but finding her determined, went downthe cellar again, accompanied by Dick, for a last look round. CaptainFlower, leaning heavily on Miss Tipping's arm, limped slowly to thecarriage. 

"Tired?" she enquired, tenderly, as he sank back in the cushions. 

"Foot's painful, " he said, with a faint smile. "Good gracious!"

"What's the matter?" asked Miss Tipping, alarmed by his manner. 

"I've left my pipe in the garden, " said Flower, rising, "the one yougave me. I wouldn't lose it for the world. "

"I'll get it, " said Miss Tipping, springing out of the carriage. "Whereabouts did you leave it, do you think?"

"By the bee-hives, " said Flower, pale with excitement, as he heard Mrs. Tipping and Dick coming up from the cellar. "Make haste; somebody mighttake it. "

Miss Tipping darted into the house, and immediately afterwards theTippings ascended from the cellar, attended by the landlady. 

"Driver, " said Flower, sharply. 

"Sir, " said the man, looking round and tenderly rubbing his back. 

"Take that to the lady who has just gone in, at once, " gabbled Flower;"hurry up. "

For want of anything better, he handed the astonished driver histobacco-pouch, and waved him to the house. The lad descended from hisperch and ran to the door just as Dick Tipping, giving vent to a sharpcry, was rushing out. The cry acted on the skipper like magic, and, snatching up the whip, he gave the horse a cut in which was concentratedthe fears of the last fortnight and the hopes of his future lifetime. 

The animal sprang forward madly just as Dick Tipping, who had pushedthe driver out of the way, rushed out in pursuit. There was a hard whiteroad in front and it took it at a gallop, the vehicle rocking from sideto side behind it as Flower played on it with the whip. Tipping wasclose behind, and the driver a good second. Flower, leaving the horse totake care of itself for a time, stood upright in the carriage and hurledcushions at his foremost pursuer. The third cushion was long andlimp, and, falling on end in front of him, twined itself round hisswift-moving legs and brought him heavily to the ground. 

"He's winded, " said Flower, as he saw the coachman stop and help theother man slowly to his feet; "shows what a cushion can do. "

He clambered onto the seat, as a bend in the road shut the others fromhis sight, and gathering up the reins, gave himself over to the joyousfeeling of his new-found liberty as they rushed through the air. Hisideas of driving were elementary, and his mode of turning corners wasto turn them quickly and get it over; but he drove on for miles withoutmishap, and, the horse having dropped to a steady trot, began toconsider his future movements. 

"They'll be setting the wires to work, I expect, " he thought, soberly. "What a comfortable old world this must have been before they inventedsteam and telegraph. I'll go a little bit farther, and then tie it up toa tree. "

He made what he considered an endearing noise with his mouth, and thestartled animal at once bounded forward with the intention of gettingout of hearing. A gentle incline favoured the pace, which was now soconsiderable that the skipper, seeing another craft approaching him, waved his hand towards it warningly. 

"I wonder who ought to get out of the way?" he said, thoughtfullly; "Is'pose the horse knows. "

He left it to that able quadruped, after giving it a little bang on theflank with the butt end of the whip to keep its faculties fresh. Therewas a frenzied shout from the other vehicle, a sudden violent stoppage, with the crashing of wood, and Flower, crawling out of the ditch, watched with some admiration the strenuous efforts of his noble beast totake the carriage along on three wheels. 

"Look what you've done!" roared the driver of the other vehicle, foamingwith passion, as he jumped out and held his plunging horse by the head. "Look at my gig, sir! Look at it!"

Flower looked, and then returned the courtesy. 

"Look at mine, " he said, impressively; "mine's much the worst. "

"You were on the wrong side of the road, " shouted the other. 

"I was there first, " said Flower; "it wouldn't have happened if youhadn't tried to get out of my way. The course I was on I should havepassed you easily. "

He looked up the road. His horse, trembling violently, was standingstill, with the wreck of the carriage behind it. He stoopedmechanically, and picking up the whip which was lying in the road saidthat he would go off for assistance. 

"You stay here, sir, " said the other man with an oath. 

"I won't, " said the skipper. 

His adversary made no reply, but, having by this time soothed hisfrightened horse, took his whip out of its socket and strode towardshim with the butt raised over his head. Flower arranged his own whip thesame way, and both men being new to the weapon, circled round each othertwo or three times waiting for a little instruction. Then the ownerof the gig, whose temper was rising every second, ran in and dealt theskipper a heavy blow on the head. 

The blow dispelled an idea which was slowly forming there of asking theextent of the damage, and, if it were not too much, offering to make itgood. Ideas of settlement vanished; ideas of honour, morality, and evenescape vanished too; all merged in the one fixed idea of giving theother man a harder blow than he had given. 

For a minute or two the battle raged fairly equally; both were securinga fair amount of punishment. Then, under a heavy blow from Flower, hisfoe went down suddenly. For a second or two the skipper held his breathwith fear, then the other man raised himself feebly on his knees, and, throwing away his whip, staggered to his feet and, unfastening thereins, clambered unsteadily into his gig and drove off without a word. 

The victorious skipper looked up and down the lonely road, and shakinghis head sadly at the noble steed which had brought him into this mess, tenderly felt his bruised and aching head, and then set off as fast ashis foot would permit up the road. 

He looked about eagerly as he went for a place of concealment, fullyaware of the inability of a lame shipmaster to outdistance horseflesh. Hedges and fields bounded both sides of the road, but half a milefarther along, on the right-hand side, the field stretched away upwardsto meet a wood. Towards this wood Captain Flower, having first squeezedhimself through a gap in the hedge, progressed with all speed. 

He sat on the trunk of a fallen pine to regain his breath, and eagerlylooked about him. To his disappointment he saw that the wood was of nogreat depth, but was a mere belt of pines running almost parallel withthe road he had quitted. With the single idea of getting as far awayfrom the scene of his crime as possible, he began to walk through it. 

The wood was very still, and the shade grateful after the heat of thesun. Just beyond, the fields were shimmering in the heat, and he prickedup his ears as the unmistakable sound of wheels and hoofs came acrossthe silent fields. He looked round wildly, and seeing a tiny cottagestanding in a bit of a clearing, made towards it. 

A little old man twisted with rheumatism rose as he stood at the opendoor and regarded him with a pair of bloodshot, but sharp, old eyes, while an old woman sitting in a Windsor-chair looked up anxiously. 

"Can I come in?" asked Flower. 

"Aye, " said the old man, standing aside to let him pass. 

"Hot day, " said the skipper, taking a seat. 

"No, 'tain't, " said the old man. 

"Not so hot as yesterday, " said Flower, with a conciliatory smile. 

"It's 'otter than it was yesterday, " said the old man. "What ha' youdone to your face?"

"I was climbing a tree, " said Flower, with a laugh, "and I fell down;I've hurt my foot, too. "

"Served you right if you'd broke your neck, " said his amiable host, "climbing trees at your time o' life. "

"Nice cottage you've got here, " said the persistent Flower. 

"I wish you 'ad to live in it, " said the old man. 

He took a proffered cigar, and after eyeing it for some time, like ayoung carver with a new joint, took out a huge clasp-knife and slowlysawed the end off. 

"Can I sleep here for the night?" asked Flower, at length. 

"No, you can't, " said the old man, drawing at his cigar. 

He smoked on, with the air of a man who has just given a very cleveranswer to a very difficult question. 

"We ain't on'y got one room besides this, " said the old woman solemnly. "Years ago we used to have four and a wash-place. "

"Oh, I could sleep on the floor here, " said Flower, lightly. "I'll payyou five shillings. "

"Let's see your money, " said the old man, leaning forward. 

Flower put the sum in his hand. "I'll pay now, " he said, heartily. 

"The floor won't run away, " said the other, pulling out an old leathernpurse, "and you can sleep on any part of it you like. "

Flower thanked him effusively. He was listening intently for any soundsoutside. If the Tippings and the man in the gig met, they would scourthe country-side, and almost certainly pay the cottage a visit. 

"If you let me go upstairs and lie down for an hour or two, " he said, turning to the old man, "I'll give you another half-crown. "

The old man said nothing, but held out his hand, and after receiving thesum got up slowly, and, opening a door by the fire-place, revealed a fewbroken stairs, which he slowly ascended, after beckoning his guest tofollow. 

"It's a small place, " he said, tersely, "but I daresay you've oftenslept in a worse. "

Flower made no reply. He was looking from the tiny casement. Throughan opening in the trees he saw a couple of figures crossing the fieldtowards the wood. 

"If anybody asks you whether you have seen me, say no, " he said, rapidly, to the old man. "I've got into a bit of a mess, and if you hideme here until it has blown over, I'll make it worth your while. "

"How much?" said the old man. 

Flower hesitated. "Five pounds for certain, " he said, hastily, "andmore if you're put to much trouble. Run down and stop your wife's mouthquietly. "

"Don't order me about, " said the old man, slowly; "I ain't said I'll doit yet. "

"They're coming now, " said Flower, impatiently; "mind, if they catch meyou lose your five pounds. "

"All right, " said the other. "I'm doing it for the five pounds, mind, not for you, " added this excellent man. 

He went grunting and groaning down the narrow stairs, and the skipper, closing the door, went and crouched down by the open casement. Afew indistinct words were borne in on the still air, and voices camegradually closer, until footsteps, which had been deadened by the grass, became suddenly audible on the stones outside the cottage. 

Flower held his breath with anxiety; then he smiled softly andpleasantly as he listened to the terms in which his somewhat difficulthost was addressed. 

"Now, gaffer, " said the man of the gig, roughly. 

"Wake up, grandpa, " said Dick Tipping; "have you seen a man go byhere?--blue serge suit, moustache, face and head knocked about?"

"No, I ain't seen 'im, " was the reply. "What's he done?"

Tipping told him briefly. "We'll have him, " he said, savagely. "We'vegot a mounted policeman on the job, besides others. If you can catch himit's worth half a sov. To you. "

He went off hurriedly with the other man, and their voices died away inthe distance. Flower sat in his place on the floor for some time, andthen, seeing from the window that the coast was clear, went downstairsagain. 

The old woman made him up a bed on the floor after supper, although bothhe and the old man assured her that it was unnecessary, and then, takingthe lamp, bade him good-night and went upstairs. 

Flower, left to himself, rolled exultingly on his poor couch, and forthe first time in a fortnight breathed freely. 

"If I do get into trouble, " he murmured, complacently, "I generallymanage to get out of it. It wants a good head in the first place, and acool one in the second. "

CHAPTER XVI. 

He was awake early in the morning, and, opening the door, stooddelightedly breathing the fresh, pine-scented air. 

The atmosphere of the Blue Posts was already half forgotten, and hestood looking dreamily forward to the time when he might reasonablyreturn to life and Poppy. He took a few steps into the wood and, afterfeeling for his pipe before he remembered that Miss Tipping was probablykeeping it as a souvenir, sat on a freshly-cut log and fell into asentimental reverie, until the appearance of a restless old man at thedoor of the cottage took him back to breakfast. 

"I thought you'd run off, " said his host, tartly. 

"You thought wrong, then, " said Flower, sharply, as he took out hispurse. "Here are two of the five pounds I promised you; I'll give youthe rest when I go. "

The old man took the money and closed his small, hard mouth untilthe lips almost disappeared. "More money than sense, " he remarked, cordially, as the skipper replaced his purse. 

Flower made no reply. Some slices of fat bacon were sizzling in a panover the wood-fire, and the pungent smell of the woods, mixed with thesharpness of the morning air, gave him an appetite to which, since hisenforced idleness, he had been a stranger. He drew his chair up tothe rickety little table with its covering of frayed oil-cloth, and, breaking a couple of eggs over his bacon, set to eagerly. 

"Don't get eggs like these in London, " he said to the old woman. 

The old woman leaned over and, inspecting the shells, paid a tributeto the hens who were responsible for them, and traced back a genealogywhich would have baffled the entire College of Heralds--a genealogyhotly contested by the old man, who claimed a bar sinister through threeeggs bought at the village shop some generations before. 

"You've got a nice little place here, " said Flower, by way of changingthe conversation, which was well on the way to becoming personal; "butdon't you find it rather dull sometimes?"

"Well, I don't know, " said the old woman. "I finds plenty to do, and 'epotters about like. 'E don't do much, but it pleases 'im, and it don'thurt me. "

The object of these compliments took them as a matter of course, andafter hunting up the stump of last night's cigar, and shredding it withhis knife, crammed it into a clay pipe and smoked tranquilly. Flowerfound a solitary cigar, one of the Blue Posts' best, and with a gazewhich wandered idly from the chest of drawers on one side of the roomto the old china dogs on the little mantel-shelf on the other, smoked insilence. 

The old man brought in news at dinner-time. The village was ringingwith the news of yesterday's affair, and a rigourous search, fanned intoexcitement by an offer of two pounds reward, was taking the place of themore prosaic labours of the country side. 

"If it wasn't for me, " said the old man, in an excess of self-laudation, "you'd be put in the gaol--where you ought to be; but I wouldn't do itif it wasn't for the five pounds. You'd better keep close in the house. There's some more of 'em in the wood looking for you. "

Captain Flower took his advice, and for the next two days became avoluntary prisoner. On the third day the old man reported that publicexcitement about him was dying out, owing partly to the fact that itthought the villain must have made his escape good, and partly to thefact that the landlord of the Wheatsheaf had been sitting at his frontdoor shooting at snakes on the King's Highway invisible to ordinaryfolk. 

The skipper resolved to make a start on the following evening, walking, the first night so as to get out of the dangerous zone, and thentraining to London. At the prospect his spirits rose, and in a convivialmood he purchased a bottle of red currant wine from the old woman atsupper, and handed it round. 

He was still cheerful next morning as he arose and began to dress. Then he paused, and in a somewhat anxious fashion patted his trouserspockets. Minute and painful investigation revealed a bunch of keys and aclasp-knife. 

He tried his other pockets, and then, sinking in a dazed fashion into achair, tried to think what had become of his purse and loose change. Hiswatch, a silver one, was under his pillow, where he had placed it thenight before, and his ready cash was represented by the shilling whichhung upon the chain. 

He completed his dressing slowly while walking about the room, lookinginto all sorts of likely and unlikely hiding-places for his money, andat length gave up the search in disgust, and sat down to wait until suchtime as his host should appear. It was a complication for which he hadnot bargained, and unable to endure the suspense any longer, he put hishead up the stairway and bawled to the old man to come down. 

"What's the matter now?" demanded the old man as he came downstairs, preceded by his wife. "One would think the place belonged to you, makingall that noise. "

"I've lost my purse, " said Flower, regarding him sternly. "My purse hasbeen taken out of one pocket and some silver out of the other while Iwas asleep. "

The old man raised his eyebrows at his wife and scratched his chinroughly. 

"I s'pose you've lost my three pounds along with it?" he said, raspily. 

"Where's my purse?" demanded the skipper, roughly; "don't play the foolwith me. It won't pay. "

"I don't know nothing about your purse, " said the other, regarding himclosely with his little bloodshot eyes; "you're trying to do me out o'mythree pounds--me what's took you in and 'id you. "

The incensed skipper made no reply, but, passing upstairs, turnedthe bed-room topsy-turvy in a wild search for his property. It wasunsuccessful, and he came down with a look in his face which made hisrespected host get close to his wife. 

"Are you going to give me my money?" demanded he, striding up to him. 

"I've not got your money, " snarled the other, "I'm an honest man. "

He started back in alarm, and his wife gave a faint scream as Flowercaught him by the collar, and, holding him against the wall, wentthrough his pockets. 

"Don't hurt him, " cried the old woman; "he's only a little old man. "

"If you were younger and bigger, " said the infuriated skipper, as hegave up the fruitless search, "I'd thrash you till you gave it up. "

"I'm an honest man, " said the other, recovering himself as he saw thathis adversary intended no violence; "if you think I've stole your money, you know what you can do. "

"What?" demanded Flower. 

"Go to the police, " said the old man, his little slit of a mouth twistedinto a baleful grin; "if you think I've stole your money, go and tellthe police. "

"Let 'em come and search the house, " said the old woman, plucking upspirit. "I've been married forty-two years and 'ad seven children. Goand fetch the police. "

Flower stared at them in wrathful concern. Threats were of no use, and violence was out of the question. He went to the door, and leaningagainst it, stood there deep in thought until, after a time, the oldwoman, taking courage from his silence, began to prepare breakfast. Thenhe turned, and drawing his chair up to the table, ate silently. 

He preserved this silence all day despite the occasional suggestion ofthe old man that he should go for the police, and the aggrieved refrainof the old woman as to the length of her married life and the number ofher offspring. 

He left at night without a word. The old man smiled almost amiablyto see him go; and the old woman, who had been in a state of nervoustrepidation all day, glanced at her husband with a look in which wifelydevotion and admiration were almost equally blended. 

Flower passed slowly through the wood, and after pausing to make surethat he was not followed, struck across the fields, and, with hissailor's knowledge of the stars, steered by them in the direction ofLondon. 

He walked all that night unmolested, his foot giving him but littletrouble, and passed the following day under a haystack, assuaging hishunger with some bread and cheese he had put in his pocket. 

Travelling by night and sleeping in secluded spots by day, he reachedthe city in three days. Considering that he had no money, and was afraidto go into a town to pawn his watch, he did not suffer so much fromhunger as might have been expected--something which he vaguely referredto as Providence, but for which the sufferers found other terms, twiceleading his faltering footsteps to labourers' dinners in tin cans andred handkerchiefs. 

At Stratford he pawned his watch and chain and sat down to a lengthymeal, and then, with nearly eighteen shillings in his pocket, took trainto Liverpool Street. The roar of the city greeted his ears like music, and, investing in a pipe and tobacco, he got on a 'bus bound eastward, and securing cheap apartments in the Mile End Road, sat down to considerhis plans. The prompt appearance of the Tipping family after his letterto Fraser had given him a wholesome dread of the post, and until theconnection between the two was satisfactorily explained he would notrisk another, even in his new name of Thompson. Having come to thisdecision, he had another supper, and then went upstairs to the unwontedluxury of a bed. 

CHAPTER XVII. 

It is one of the first laws of domestic economy that the largestfamilies must inhabit the smallest houses--a state of things which issomewhat awkward when the heads wish to discuss affairs of state. Somepreserve a certain amount of secrecy by the use of fragmentary sentenceseked out by nods and blinks and by the substitution of capital lettersfor surnames; a practice likely to lead to much confusion and scandalwhen the names of several friends begin with the same letter. Othersimprove the family orthography to an extent they little dream of byspelling certain vital words instead of pronouncing them, some childrenprofiting so much by this form of vicarious instruction that they havebeen known to close a most interesting conversation by thoughtlesslycorrecting their parents on a point of spelling. 

There were but few secrets in the Wheeler family, the younger membersrelating each other's misdeeds quite freely, and refuting the chargeof tale-bearing by keeping debit and credit accounts with each otherin which assets and liabilities could usually be balanced by simpleaddition. Among the elders, the possession of a present secret merelymeant a future conversation. 

On this day the juniors were quite certain that secret proceedings of ahighly interesting nature were in the air. Miss Tyrell having been outsince the morning, Mrs. Wheeler was looking forward anxiously to herreturn with the view of holding a little private conversation with her, and the entire Wheeler family were no less anxious to act as audiencefor the occasion. Mr. Bob Wheeler had departed to his work that morningin a condition which his family, who were fond of homely similes, hadlikened to a bear with a sore head. The sisterly attentions of EmmaWheeler were met with a boorish request to keep her paws off; and ayoung Wheeler, rash and inexperienced in the way of this weary world, who publicly asked what Bob had "got the hump about, " was sternlyordered to finish his breakfast in the washhouse. Consequently therewas a full meeting after tea, and when Poppy entered, it was confidentlyexpected that proceedings would at once open with a speech from thesofa. 

"Take the children outside a bit, Belinda, " said her mother, after thetea things had been removed. 

"Got my 'ome lessons to do, " said Belinda. 

"Do 'em when you come back, " said Mrs. Wheeler. 

"Sha'n't 'ave time, " replied Belinda, taking her books from a shelf;"they'll take me all the evening. We've all got a lot of 'ome lessonsto-night. "

"Never mind, you take 'em out, " persisted Mrs. Wheeler. 

"When I want to go out, " said Belinda, rebelliously, "you won't letme. "

"Do as your mother tells you, " commanded Mr. Wheeler, with excellentsternness. 

"I want a little quiet, " said Mrs. Wheeler; "a little fresh air will doyou good, Peter. "

"I'll go and smoke my pipe in the washhouse, " said Mr. Wheeler, who hadhis own notions of healthful recreation. 

"Take your pipe outside, " said Mrs. Wheeler, significantly. "Did you'ear what I said, Belinda?"

Belinda rose noisily and gathering up her untidy books, thrust themback in a heap on the shelf, and putting on her hat stood at the doorcommenting undutifully upon her parents, and shrilly demanding of thesmall Wheelers whether they were coming or whether she was to stay thereall night. She also indulged in dreary prognostications concerning herfuture, and finally driving her small fry before her, closed the streetdoor with a bang which induced Mrs. Wheeler to speak of heredity and Mr. Wheeler's sister Jane's temper. 

"Where are you going, Poppy?" she enquired, as the girl rose to followthe dutiful Mr. Wheeler. "I want to speak to you a moment. "

The girl resumed her seat, and taking up a small garment intended forthe youngest Wheeler but two, or the youngest but one, whichever ithappened to fit best, or whichever wanted it first, stitched onin silence. "I want to speak to you about Bob, " said Mrs. Wheeler, impressively. "Of course you know he never keeps anything from hismother. He 'as told me about all the gells he has walked out with, andthough, of course, he 'as been much run after, he is three-and-twentyand not married yet. He told me that none of 'em seemed to be worthy ofhim. "

She paused for so long that Poppy Tyrell looked up from her work, said"Yes, " in an expressionless manner, and waited for her to continue. 

"He's been a good son, " said the mother, fondly; "never no trouble, always been pertickler, and always quite the gentleman. He always smokeshis cigar of a Sunday, and I remember the very first money 'e everearned 'e spent on a cane with a dog's 'ed to it. "

"Yes, " said Poppy again. 

"The gells he's 'ad after 'im wouldn't be believed, " said Mrs. Wheeler, shaking her head with a tender smile at a hole in the carpet. "Beforeyou came here there was a fresh one used to come in every Sunday almost, but 'e couldn't make up his mind. We used to joke him about it. "

"He's very young still, " said Poppy. 

"He's old enough to be married, " said Mrs. Wheeler. "He's told me allabout you, he never has no secrets from 'is mother. He told me that heasked you to walk out with 'im last night and you said 'No'; but I told'im that that was only a gell's way, and that you'd give 'im anotheranswer soon. "

"That was my final answer, " said Poppy Tyrell, the corners of her mouthhardening. "I shall never say anything else. "

"All young gells say that at first, " said Mrs. Wheeler, makingpraiseworthy efforts to keep her temper. "Wheeler 'ad to ask me fivetimes. "

"I meant what I said, " said Poppy, stitching industriously. "I shallnever change my mind. "

"It's early days to ask you perhaps, so soon after Captain Flower'sdeath, " suggested Mrs. Wheeler. 

"That has nothing at all to do with it, " said the girl. "I shall notmarry your son, in any case. "

"Not good enough for you, I suppose?" said the other, her eyes snapping. "In my time beggars couldn't be choosers. "

"They can't choose much now, " said Poppy, in a low voice; "but as youknow I'm going to a situation on Monday, I shall soon be able to pay offmy debt to you: though, of course, I can't repay you for your kindnessin letting me live here when I had nowhere else to go. "

"It isn't me you owe it to, " said Mrs. Wheeler. "I'm sure I couldn't'ave afforded to do it whatever Wheeler liked to say if Bob hadn't comeforward and paid for you. "

"Bob?" cried Poppy, springing to her feet and dropping her work onto thefloor. 

"Yes, Bob, " said the other, melodramatically; "'im what isn't goodenough to be your husband. "

"I didn't know, " said the girl, brokenly; "you should have told me. Iwould sooner starve. I would sooner beg in the streets. I will go atonce. "

"I daresay you know where to go, so I sha'n't worry about you, " repliedMrs. Wheeler. "You quiet ones are generally the worst. "

"I am sorry, " murmured Poppy; "I did not mean to be rude, orungrateful. "

"You're very kind, " said Mrs. Wheeler. "Is Mr. Fraser up in London?"

"I'm sure I don't know, " said the girl, pausing at the door. 

"Sure to be, though, " said Mrs. Wheeler, significantly; "you won't 'aveto starve, my dear. But, there, you know that--some people's pride is afunny thing. "

Miss Tyrell regarded her for a moment in silence and then quitted theroom, coming back again from half-way up the stairs to answer a knock atthe door. She opened it slowly, and discovered to her horror Mr. Fraser standing upon the doorstep, with a smile which was meant to bepropitiatory, but only succeeded _in_ being uneasy. 

"Is that Mr. Fraser?" demanded Mrs. Wheeler's voice, shrilly. 

"That's me, " said Fraser, heartily, as he shook hands with Poppy andentered the room. 

"I thought you wouldn't be far off, " said Mrs. Wheeler, in an unpleasantvoice. "Poppy's been expecting you. "

"I didn't know that Mr. Fraser was coming, " said Poppy, as the helplessman looked from one to the other. "I suppose he has come to see you. Hehas not come to see me. "

"Yes, I have, " said Mr. Fraser, calmly. "I wanted--"

But Miss Tyrell had gone quietly upstairs, leaving him to gaze in aperturbed fashion at the sickly and somewhat malicious face on the sofa. 

"What's the matter?" he enquired. 

"Nothing, " said Mrs. Wheeler. 

"Isn't Miss Tyrell well?"

"So far as I'm permitted to know the state of 'er 'ealth, she is, " wasthe reply. 

"Mr. Wheeler well?" enquired Fraser, after a long pause. 

"Very well, I thank you, " said Mrs. Wheeler. 

"And Miss Wheeler, and Bob, and the whole pa---- and all of them?" saidFraser. 

"All very well, " said Mrs. Wheeler. 

His stock of conversation being exhausted he sat glancing uncomfortablyround the littered room, painfully conscious that Mrs. Wheeler wasregarding him with a glance that was at once hostile and impatient. While he was wondering whether Miss Tyrell had gone upstairs for apermanency, he heard her step on the stairs, and directly afterwards sheappeared at the door with her hat and jacket on. 

"Good-bye, Mrs. Wheeler, " she said, gravely. 

"Good-bye, " said Mrs. Wheeler, in the same way that a free-speakingwoman would have said "Good-riddance. "

The girl's eyes rested for a moment on Fraser. Then she bade himgood-bye, and, opening the door, passed into the street. 

Fraser looked at Mrs. Wheeler in perplexity, then, jumping up suddenlyas Poppy passed the window, he crossed to the door. 

"Good-bye, Mrs. Wheeler, " he shouted, and, vaguely conscious thatsomething was wrong somewhere, dashed off in pursuit. 

Poppy Tyrell, her face pale and her eyes burning, quickened her pace asshe heard hurrying footsteps behind her. 

"I just wanted a few words with you, Miss Tyrell, " said Fraser, somewhatbreathlessly. 

"I--I am going on business, " said Poppy, in a quiet voice. 

"I didn't understand Mrs. Wheeler just now, " said Fraser. "I hope youdidn't mind my calling?"

"Oh, no, " said the girl; "call as often as you like, but this eveningI'm busy. Come to-morrow. "

This hospitality over-reached itself. "Have you left the Wheelers?" heenquired, suddenly. 

"Yes, " said Poppy, simply. 

"What's the good of telling me to call, then?" enquired Fraser, bluntly. 

"They will be pleased to see you, I'm sure, " said Miss Tyrell. 

"Where are you going?" asked Fraser. 

Miss Tyrell made no reply, except to favour him with a glance whichwarned him not to repeat the question, and he walked beside her for sometime in silence. 

"Good-bye, " she said, suddenly. 

"I'm not going, " said Fraser, with artless surprise. 

"Mr. Fraser, " said the girl, reddening with anger, "will you pleaseunderstand that I wish to be alone?"

"No, " said Mr. Fraser, doggedly. 

"A gentleman would not have to have half as much said to him, " saidPoppy, trembling. 

"Well, thank God, I'm not a gentleman, " said Fraser, calmly. 

"If I had a father or a brother you would not behave like this, " saidthe girl. 

"If you had a father or a brother they would do it instead, " saidFraser, gently; "it's just because you've got nobody else that I'mlooking after you. "

Miss Tyrell, who had softened slightly, stiffened again with temper. 

"You?" she said, hotly. "What right have you to trouble yourself aboutme?"

"No right at all, " said Fraser, cheerfully, "but I'm going to do it. Ifyou've left the Wheelers, where are you going?"

Miss Tyrell, gazing straight in front of her, made no reply. 

"Won't you tell me?" persisted the other. 

"I'm not going anywhere, " said Poppy, stopping suddenly and facing him. "I've got a new berth next Monday, and to-morrow morning I am going tosee them to ask them to employ me at once. "

"And to-night?" suggested the other. 

"I shall go for a walk, " said the girl. "Now that you know all about myconcerns, will you please go?"

"Walk?" repeated Fraser. "Walk? What, all night? You can't do it--youdon't know what it's like. Will you let me lend you some money? You canrepay me as soon as you like. "

"No, thank you. "

"For my sake?" he suggested. 

Miss Tyrell raised her eyebrows. 

"I'm a bad walker, " he explained. 

The reply trembling on Miss Tyrell's lips realised that it was utterlyinadequate to the occasion, and remained unspoken. She walked on insilence, apparently oblivious of the man by her side, and when he nextspoke to her made no reply. He glanced at a clock in a baker's shop asthey passed, and saw that it was just seven. 

In this sociable fashion they walked along the Commercial Road and on toAldgate, and then, passing up Fenchurch Street, mingled with the crowdthronging homewards over London Bridge. They went as far as Kenningtonin this direction, and then the girl turned and walked back to theCity. Fraser, glancing at the pale profile beside him, ventured to speakagain. 

"Will you come down to Wapping and take my cabin for the night?" heasked, anxiously. "The mate's away, and I can turn in fo'ard--you canhave it all to yourself. "

Miss Tyrell, still looking straight in front of her, made no reply, butwith another attempt to shake off this pertinacious young man of the seaquickened her pace again. Fraser fell back. 

"If I'm not fit to walk beside you, I'll walk behind, " he said, in a lowvoice; "you won't mind that?"

In this way they walked through the rapidly thinning streets. It was nowdark, and most of the shops had closed. The elasticity had departed fromMiss Tyrell's step, and she walked aimlessly, noting with a sinking atthe heart the slowly passing time. Once or twice she halted from sheerweariness, Fraser halting too, and watching her with a sympathy of whichFlower would most certainly have disapproved if he had seen it. 

At length, in a quiet street beyond Stratford, she not only stopped, butturned and walked slowly back. Frascr turned too, and his heart beat ashe fancied that she intended to overtake him. He quickened his pace intime with the steps behind him until they slackened and faltered; thenhe looked round and saw her standing in the centre of the pathway withher head bent. He walked back slowly until he stood beside her, and sawthat she was crying softly. He placed his hand on her arm. 

"Go away, " she said, in a low voice. 

"I shall not. "

"You walked away from me just now. "

"I was a brute, " said Frascr, vehemently. 

The arm beneath his hand trembled, and he drew it unresistingly throughhis own. In the faint light from the lamp opposite he saw her look athim. 

"I'm very tired, " she said, and leaned on him trustfully. "Were youreally going to leave me just now?"

"You know I was not, " said Fraser, simply. 

Miss Tyrell, walking very slowly, pondered. "I should never haveforgiven you if you had, " she said, thoughtfully. "I'm so tired, I canhardly stand. You must take me to your ship. "

They walked slowly to the end of the road, but the time seemed veryshort to Fraser. As far as he was concerned he would willingly havedispensed with the tram which they met at the end and the antiquefour-wheeler in which they completed their journey to the river. Theyfound a waterman's skiff at the stairs, and sat side by side in thestern, looking contentedly over the dark water, as the waterman pulledin the direction of the _Swallow_, which was moored in the tier. Therewas no response to their hail, and Fraser himself, clambering over theside with the painter, assisted Miss Tyrell, who, as the daughter ofone sailor and the guest of another, managed to throw off her fatiguesufficiently to admire the lines of the small steamer. 

Fraser conducted her to the cabin, and motioning her to a seat on thelocker, went forward to see about some supper. He struck a match in theforecastle and scrutinised the sleepers, and coming to the conclusionthat something which was lying doubled up in a bunk, with its headburied in the pillow, was the cook, shook it vigourously. 

"Did you want the cook, sir?" said a voice from another bunk. 

"Yes, " said Fraser, sharply, as he punched the figure again and again. 

"Pore cookie ain't well, sir, " said the seaman, sympathetically;"'e's been very delikit all this evenin'; that's the worst o' themteetotalers. "

"All right; that'll do, " said the skipper, sharply, as he struck anothermatch, and gave the invalid a final disgusted punch. "Where's the boy?"

A small, dirty face with matted hair protruded from the bunk above thecook and eyed him sleepily. 

"Get some supper, " said Fraser, "quick. "

"Supper, sir?" said the boy with a surprised yawn. 

"And be quick about it, " said the skipper, "and wash you face first andput a comb through your hair. Come, out you get. "

The small sleeper sighed disconsolately, and, first extending oneslender leg, clambered out and began to dress, yawning pathetically ashe did so. 

"And some coffee, " said Fraser, as he lit the lamp and turned to depart. 

"Bill, " said the small boy, indignantly. 

"Wot d'ye want?" said the seaman. 

"'Elp me to wake that drunken pig up, " said the youth, pointing aresentful finger at the cook. "I ain't goin' to do all the work. "

"You leave 'im alone, " said Bill, ferociously. The cook had been veryliberal that evening, and friendship is friendship, after all. 

"That's what a chap gets by keeping hisself sober, " said the youthfulphilosopher, as he poured a little cold tea out of the kettle on hishandkerchief and washed himself. "Other people's work to do. "

He went grumbling up to the galley, and, lighting some sticks, putthe kettle on, and then descended to the cabin, starting with genuinesurprise as he saw the skipper sitting opposite a pretty girl, who wasleaning back in her seat fast asleep. 

"Cook'll be sorry 'e missed this, " he murmured, as he lighted up andbegan briskly to set the table. He ran up on deck again to see howhis fire was progressing, and thrusting his head down the forecastlecommunicated the exciting news to Bill. 

To Fraser sitting watching his sleeping guest it seemed like a beautifuldream. That Poppy Tyrell should be sitting in his cabin and looking tohim as her only friend seemed almost incredible. A sudden remembranceof Flower subdued at once the ardour of his gaze, and he sat wonderingvaguely as to the whereabouts of that erratic mariner until hismeditations were broken by the entrance of the boy with the steamingcoffee, followed by Bill bearing a couple of teaspoons. 

"I nearly went to sleep, " said Poppy, as Fraser roused her gently. 

She took off her hat and jacket, and Fraser, taking them from her, laidthem reverently in his bunk. Then Poppy moved farther along the seat, and, taking some coffee pronounced herself much refreshed. 

"I've been very rude to you, " she said, softly; "but Mrs. Wheeler wasvery unkind, and said that of course I should go to you. That was why. "

"Mrs. Wheeler is--" began Fraser, and stopped suddenly. 

"Of course it was quite true, " said Poppy, healthfully attacking herplate; "I did have to come to you. "

"It was rather an odd way of coming, " said Fraser; "my legs ache now. "

The girl laughed softly, and continued to laugh. Then her eyesmoistened, and her face became troubled. Fraser, as the best thing todo, made an excuse and went up on deck, to the discomfort of Bill andthe boy, who were not expecting him. 

Poppy was calm again by the time he returned, and thanked him againsoftly as he showed her her bunk and withdrew for the night. Bill andthe boy placed their berths at his disposal, but he declined them infavour of a blanket in the galley, where he sat up, and slept but illall night, and was a source of great embarrassment to the cook nextmorning when he wanted to enter to prepare breakfast. 

Poppy presided over that meal, and it, and the subsequent walk todiscover lodgings, are among Fraser's dearest memories. He trod on airthrough the squalid roads by her side, and, the apartments having beenobtained, sat on the arm of the armchair--the most comfortable part--andlistened to her plans. 

"And you won't go away without letting me know?" he said, as he rose todepart. 

Miss Tyrell shook her head, and her eyes smiled at him. "You know Iwon't, " she said, softly. "I don't want to. "

She saw him to the door, and until he had quitted the gate, kept ithospitably open. Fraser, with his head in a whirl, went back to the_Swallow_. 

CHAPTER XVIII. 

The prime result of Mrs. Banks' nocturnal ramble with Mr. William Green, was a feeling of great bitterness against her old friend, Captain JohnBarber. Mr. Green, despite her protests, was still a member of the crewof the _Foam_, and walked about Seabridge in broad daylight, while shecrept forth only after sundown, and saw a hidden meaning in every "Fineevening, Mrs. Banks, " which met her. She pointed out to CaptainBarber, that his refusal to dismiss Mr. Green was a reflection uponher veracity, and there was a strange light in her eyes and a strangehardening of her mouth, as the old man said that to comply with herrequest would be to reflect upon the polite seaman's veracity. 

Her discomfiture was not lessened by the unbecoming behaviour ofher daughter, who in some subtle manner, managed to convey that heracceptance of her mother's version of the incident depended upon the wayshe treated Mr. Frank Gibson. It was a hard matter to a woman of spirit, and a harder thing still, that those of her neighbours who listened toher account of the affair were firmly persuaded that she was setting hercap at Captain Barber. 

To clear her character from this imputation, and at the same time tomark her sense of the captain's treatment of her, Mrs. Banks effecteda remarkable change of front, and without giving him the slightestwarning, set herself to help along his marriage to Mrs. Church. 

She bantered him upon the subject when she met him out, and, disregarding his wrathful embarrassment, accused him in a loud voice ofwearing his tie in a love-knot. She also called him a turtledove. The conversation ended here, the turtledove going away crimson withindignation and cooing wickedly. 

Humbled by the terrors of his position, the proud shipowner turned morethan ever to Captain Nibletts for comfort and sympathy, and it is butdue to that little man to say that anything he could have done for hisbenefactor would have given him the greatest delight. He spent much ofhis spare time in devising means for his rescue, all of which the oldman listened to with impatience and rejected with contumely. 

"It's no good, Nibletts, " he said, as they sat in the subdued light ofthe cabin one evening. 

"Nothing can be done. If anything could be done, I should have thoughtof it. "

"Yes, that's what struck me, " said the little skipper, dutifully. 

"I've won that woman's 'art, " said Captain Barber, miserably; "in 'eranxiety to keep me, the woman's natur' has changed. There's nothing shewouldn't do to make sure of me. "

"It's understandable, " said Nibletts. 

"It's understandable, " agreed Captain Barber, "but it's orkard. Insteado' being a mild, amiable sort o' woman, all smiles, the fear o' losingme has changed 'er into a determined, jealous woman. She told me herselfit was love of me as 'ad changed her. "

"You ain't written to her, I suppose?" asked Nibletts, twisting hisfeatures into an expression of great cunning. 

Captain Barber shook his head. "If you'd think afore speaking, Nibletts, " he said, severely, "you'd know as people don't write to eachother when they're in the same house. "

The skipper apologised. "What I mean to say is this, " he said, softly. "She hasn't got your promise in writing, and she's done all the talkingabout it. I'm the only one you've spoken to about it, I s'pose?"

Captain Barber nodded. 

"Well, forget all about it, " said Nibletts, in an excited whisper. 

Captain Barber looked at him pityingly. 

"What good'll that do?" he asked. 

"Forget the understanding, " continued Nibletts, in a stage whisper, "forget everything; forget Captain Flower's death, act as you acted justafore he went. People'll soon see as you're strange in your manner, andI'll put the news about as you've been so affected by that affair thatyour memory's gone. "

"I was thinking of doing that the other day myself, " said CaptainBarber, slowly and untruthfully. 

"I thought you was, from something you said, " replied Nibletts. 

"I think I spoke of it, or I was going to, " said Barber. 

"You did say something, " said Nibletts. 

"I wonder what would be the best way to begin, " said Barber, regardinghim attentively. 

Captain Niblett's nerve failed him at the responsibility. 

"It's your plan, Captain Barber, " he said, impressively, "and nobody cantell a man like you how it should be done. It wants acting, and you'vegot to have a good memory to remember that you haven't got a memory. "

"Say that agin, " said Captain Barber, breathing thickly. 

Captain Nibletts repeated it, and Captain Barber, after clearinghis brain with a glass of spirits, bade him a solemn good-night, andproceeded slowly to his home. The door was opened by Mrs. Church, anda hum of voices from the front room indicated company. Captain Barber, hanging his hat on a peg, entered the room to discover Mrs. Banks anddaughter, attended by Mr. Gibson. 

"Where's Fred?" he asked, slowly, as he took a seat. 

"_Who?_" said Miss Banks, with a little scream. 

"Lawk-a-mussy, bless the man, " said her mother. "I never did. "

"Not come in yet?" asked Barber, looking round with a frightful stare. "The _Foam's_ up!"

The company exchanged glances of consternation. 

"Why, is he alive?" enquired Mrs. Church, sharply. 

"Alive!" repeated Captain Barber. "Why shouldn't he be? He was aliveyesterday, wasn't he?"

There was a dead silence, and then Captain Barber from beneath hisshaggy eyebrows observed with delight that Gibson, tapping his foreheadsignificantly, gave a warning glance at the others, while all foursitting in a row watched anxiously for the first signs of acute mania. 

"I expect he's gone round after you, my dear, " said the wily Barber toMiss Banks. 

In the circumstances this was certainly cruel, and Gibson coughedconfusedly. 

"I'll go and see, " said Miss Banks, hurriedly; "come along, mother. "

The two ladies, followed by Mr. Gibson, shook hands and withdrewhurriedly. Captain Barber, wondering how to greet Mrs. Church after hehad let them out, fixed his eyes on the carpet and remained silent. 

"Aren't you well?" enquired the lady, tenderly. 

"Well, ma'am?" repeated Uncle Barber, with severity. 

"Ma'am?" said Mrs. Church, in tones of tender reproach; "two hours ago Iwas Laura. Have you been to the 'Thorn'?"

"What 'Thorn'?" demanded Captain Barber, who had decided to forget asmuch as possible, as the only safe way. 

"The Thorn Inn, " said Mrs. Church, impatiently. 

"Where is it?" enquired Captain Barber, ingenuously. 

Mrs. Church looked at him with deep consideration. "Why, at the end ofthe cottages, opposite the '_Swan_. "

"What '_Swan_'?" enquired Captain Barber. 

"The Swan Inn, " said Mrs. Church, restraining her temper, but withdifficulty. 

"Where is it?" said Uncle Barber, with breezy freshness. 

"Opposite the 'Thorn, ' at the end of the row, " said Mrs. Church, slowly. 

"Well, what about it?" enquired Captain Barber. 

"Nothing, " said Mrs. Church, sharply, and proceeded to set supper. 

Captain Barber, hugging himself over his scheme, watched her eagerly, evincing a little bewilderment as she brought on a small, unappetizingrind of cheese, bread, two glasses, and a jug of water. He checkedhimself just in time from asking for the cold fowl and bacon left fromdinner, and, drawing his chair to the table, eyed the contents closely. 

"Only bread and cheese?" he said, somewhat peevishly. 

"That's all, " said Mrs. Church, smiling; "bread and cheese and kisses. "

Captain Barber tapped his forehead. "What did we have for dinner?" heasked, suddenly. 

"Sausages, " replied Mrs. Church, blandly; "we ate them all. "

A piece of Captain Barber's cheese went the wrong way, and he pouredhimself out some water and drank it hurriedly. "Where's the beer?" hedemanded. 

"You've got the key of the cask, " said the housekeeper. 

Captain Barber, whose temper was rising, denied it. 

"I gave it to you this morning, " said Mrs. Church; "you were going to dosomething to it, don't you know?"

"I don't remember, " said Uncle Barber, surlily. 

"Whatever has happened to your memory?" said Mrs. Church, sweetly. 

"My memory, " said the trickster, slowly, passing his hand over his brow;"why, what's the matter with it?"

"It doesn't seem quite so good as it was, " said the lady, affectionately. "Never mind, my memory will have to do for both. "

There was enough emphasis on this last sentence to send a little chillthrough the captain's frame. 

He said nothing, but keeping his eye on his plate attacked his frugalmeal in silence, and soon after-wards went upstairs to bed to think outhis position. 

If his own memory was defective, Mrs. Church's was certainly redundant. When he came hurrying in to dinner next day she remembered that he hadtold her he should not be home to that meal. He was ungallant enoughto contemplate a raid upon hers; she, with a rare thoughtfulness, hadalready eaten it. He went to the "Thorn, " and had some cold salt beef, and cursed the ingenious Nibletts, now on his way to London, sky-high. 

Mrs. Banks came in the next evening with her daughter, and condoled withthe housekeeper on the affliction which had already been noised aboutSeabridge. Mrs. Church, who had accepted her as an ally, but with mentalreservations, softly applied a handkerchief to her eyes. 

"How are you feeling?" demanded Mrs. Banks, in the voice of oneaddressing a deaf invalid. 

"I'm all right, " said Barber, shortly. 

"That's his pride, " said Mrs. Church, mournfully; "he won't own to it. He can't remember anything. He pretends he doesn't know me. "

"Who are you?" asked the sufferer, promptly. 

"He'll get the better of it, " said Mrs. Banks, kindly, as her quondamfoe wiped her eyes again. "If he don't, you'd better marry _before_October. "

To say that Captain Barber pricked up his ears at this, indicates butfeebly his interest in the remark. He held his breath and looked wildlyround the room as the two ladies, deftly ignoring him, made _their_arrangements for _his_ future. 

"I don't like to seem to hurry it, " said the housekeeper. 

"No, of course you don't. If he said October, naturally October it oughtto be, in the usual way, " remarked the other. 

"I never said October, " interrupted the trembling mariner. 

"There's his memory again, " said Mrs. Banks, in a low voice. 

"Poor dear, " sighed the other. 

"We'll look after your interests, " said Mrs. Banks, with a benevolentsmile. "Don't you remember meeting me by the church the other night andtelling me that you were going to marry Mrs. Church in October?"

"No, " bawled the affrighted man. 

"Clean gone, " said Mrs. Church, shaking her head; "it's no use. "

"Not a bit, " said Mrs. Banks. 

"October seems rather early, " said Mrs. Church, "especially as he is inmourning for his nephew. 

"There's no reason for waiting, " said Mrs. Banks, decidedly. "I daresayit's his loneliness that makes him want to hurry it. After all, he oughtto know what he wants. "

"I never said a word about it, " interposed Captain Barber, in a loudvoice. 

"All right, " said Mrs. Banks, indulgently. "What are you going to wear, my dear?" she added, turning to the housekeeper. 

Mrs. Church seemed undecided, and Captain Barber, wiping the moisturefrom his brow, listened as one in a dream to a long discussion on thepossibilities of her wardrobe. Thrice he interrupted, and thrice theladies, suspending their conversation for a moment, eyed him with tenderpity before resuming it. 

"Me and Frank thought of October, " said Elizabeth, speaking for thefirst time. She looked at Captain Barber, and then at her mother. It wasthe look of one offering to sell a casting vote. 

"October's early, " said the old lady, bridling. 

Mrs. Church looked up at her, and then modestly looked down again. "Whynot a double wedding?" she asked, gently. 

Captain Barber's voice was drowned in acclamations. Elizabeth kissedMrs. Church, and then began to discuss her own wardrobe. The owner ofthe house, the owner of the very chairs on which they were sitting, endeavoured in vain to stop them on a point of order, and discoveredto his mortification that a man without a memory is a man withoutinfluence. In twenty minutes it was all settled, and even an approximatedate fixed. There was a slight movement on the part of Elizabeth toobtain Captain Barber's opinion upon that, but being reminded by hermother that he would forget all about it in half an hour's time, shesettled it without him. 

"I'm so sorry about your memory, Captain Barber, " said Mrs. Banks, asshe prepared to depart. "I can understand what a loss it is. My memory'sa very good one. I never forget anything. "

"You forget yourself, ma'am, " returned her victim, with unconsciousambiguity, and, closing the door behind her, returned to the parlour totry and think of some means of escaping from the position to which theingenuity of Captain Nibletts, aided by that of Mrs. Banks, had broughthim. 

CHAPTER XIX. 

OPPONENTS of medicine have hit upon a means of cleansing the system byabstaining for a time from food, and drinking a quantity of fair water. It is stated to clear the eyes and the skin, and to cause a feeling oflightness and buoyancy undreamt of by those who have never tried it. All people, perhaps, are not affected exactly alike, and Captain Flower, while admitting the lightness, would have disdainfully contested anycharge of buoyancy. Against this objection it may be said, that he wasnot a model patient, and had on several occasions wilfully taken stepsto remove the feeling of lightness. 

It was over a fortnight since his return to London. The few shillingsobtained for his watch had disappeared days before; rent was due andthe cupboard was empty. The time seemed so long to him, that Poppyand Seabridge and the _Foam_ might have belonged to another period ofexistence. At the risk of detection he had hung round the Wheelers nightafter night for a glimpse of the girl for whom he was enduring all thesehardships, but without success. He became a prey to nervousness and, unable to endure the suspense any longer, determined to pay a stealthyvisit to Wapping and try and see Fraser. 

He chose the night on which in the ordinary state of affairs theschooner should be lying alongside the wharf; and keeping a keen lookoutfor friends and foes both, made his way to the Minories and down TowerHill. He had pictured it as teeming with people he knew, and the barestreet and closed warehouses, with a chance docker or two slouchingslowly along, struck him with an odd sense of disappointment. The placeseemed changed. He hurried past the wharf; that too was deserted, andafter a loving peep at the spars of his schooner he drifted slowlyacross the road to the Albion, and, pushing the door a little way open, peeped cautiously in. The faces were all unfamiliar, and letting thedoor swing quietly back he walked on until he came to the Town ofYarmouth. 

The public bar was full. Tired workers were trying to forget the laboursof the day in big draughts of beer, while one of them had thrown offhis fatigue sufficiently to show a friend a fancy step of which he wassomewhat vain. It was a difficult and intricate step for a crowded bar, and panic-stricken men holding their beer aloft called wildly upon himto stop, while the barman, leaning over the counter, strove to makehis voice heard above the din. The dancer's feet subsided into a sulkyshuffle, and a tall seaman, removing the tankard which had obscured hisface, revealed the honest features of Joe. The sight of him and therow of glasses and hunches of bread and cheese behind the bar wasirresistible. The skipper caught a departing customer by the coat andheld him. 

"Do me a favour, old man, " he said, heartily. 

"Wot d'ye want?" asked the other, suspiciously. 

"Tell that tall chap in there that a friend of his is waiting outside, "said Flower, pointing to Joe. 

He walked off a little way as the man re-entered the bar. A second ortwo later, the carman came out alone. 

"'E ses come inside 'e ses if you want to see 'im. "

"I can't, " said Flower. 

"Why not?" asked the other, as a horrible suspicion dawned upon him. "Strewth, you ain't a teetotaler, are you?"

"No, " replied the skipper, "but I can't go in. "

"Well 'e won't come out, " said the other; "'e seems to be ashort-tempered sort o' man. "

"I must see him, " said the skipper, pondering. Then a happy thoughtstruck him, and he smiled at his cleverness. "Tell him a little flowerwants to see him, " he said, briskly. 

"A little wot?" demanded the carman, blankly. 

"A little flower, " repeated the other. 

"Where is she?" enquired the carman, casting his eyes about him. 

"You just say that, " said the skipper, hurriedly. "You shall have a pintif you do. He'll understand. "

It was unfortunate for the other that the skipper had set too high anestimation on Joe's intelligence, for the information being impartedto him in the audible tones of confidence, he first gave his mug to Mr. William Green to hold, and then knocked the ambassador down. The loudlaugh consequent on the delivery of the message ceased abruptly, and inthe midst of a terrific hubbub Joe and his victim, together with twoor three innocent persons loudly complaining that they hadn't finishedtheir beer, were swept into the street. 

"He'll be all right in a minute, mate, " said a bystander to Joe, anxiously; "don't run away. "

"'Tain't so likely, " said Joe, scornfully. 

"Wot did you 'it me for?" demanded the victim, turning a deaf ear totwo or three strangers who were cuddling him affectionately and pointingout, in alluring whispers, numberless weak points in Joe's fleshlyarmour. 

"I'll 'it you agin if you come into a pub making a fool of me aforepeople, " replied the sensitive seaman, blushing hotly with therecollection of the message. 

"He told me to, " said the carman, pointing to Flower, who was lurking inthe background. 

The tall seaman turned fiercely and strode up to him, and then, to thescandal of the bystanders and the dismay of Mr. William Green, gavea loud yell and fled full speed up the road. Flower followed inhot pursuit, and owing, perhaps, to the feeling of lightness beforementioned, ran him down nearly a mile farther on, Mr. Green coming in agood second. 

"Keep orf, " panted the seaman, backing into a doorway. "Keep--it--orf!"

"Don't be a fool, Joe, " said the skipper. 

"Keep orf, " repeated the trembling seaman. 

His fear was so great that Mr. Green, who had regarded him as a tower ofstrength and courage, and had wormed himself into the tall seaman's goodgraces by his open admiration of these qualities, stood appalled at hisidol's sudden lack of spirit. 

"Don't be a fool, Joe, " said the skipper, sharply; "can't you see it'sme?"

"I thought you was drownded, " said the trembling seaman, still regardinghim suspiciously. "I thought you was a ghost. "

"Feel that, " said Flower, and gave him a blow in the ribs which almostmade him regret that his first impression was not the correct one. 

"I'm satisfied, sir, " he said, hastily. 

"I was picked up and carried off to Riga: but for certain reasons Ineedn't go into, I want my being alive kept a dead secret. You mustn'tbreathe a word to anybody, d'ye understand? Not a word. "

"Aye, aye, sir, " said Joe; "you hear that, Will-yum?"

"Who the devil's this?" demanded the skipper, who had not bargained foranother confidant. 

"It's the new 'and, sir, " said Joe. "I'll be answerable for 'im. "

Flower eyed the pair restlessly, but Mr. Green assured him with acourtly bow that Mr. Smith's assurances might be relied upon. "He hopedhe was a gentleman, " he said, feelingly. 

"Some of us thought--I thought, " said Joe, with a glance at the skipper, "that the mate shoved you overboard. "

"You always were a fool, " commented the skipper. 

"Yes, sir, " said Joe, dutifully, and as they moved slowly back along theroad gave him the latest information about Seabridge and the _Foam_. 

"The _Swallow's_ just come up in the tier, " he concluded; "and if youwant to see Mr. Fraser, I'll go and see if he's aboard. "

The skipper agreed, and after exacting renewed assurances of secrecyfrom both men, waited impatiently in the private bar of the Waterman'sArms while they put off from the stairs and boarded the steamer. 

In twenty minutes, during which time the penniless skipper affectednot to notice the restless glances of the landlord, they returnedwith Fraser, and a hearty meeting took place between the two men. Thefamished skipper was provided with meat and drink, while the two A. B. 'swhetted their thirst in the adjourning bar. 

"You've had a rough time, " said Fraser, as the skipper concluded adramatic recital of his adventures. 

Flower smiled broadly. "I've come out of it right side uppermost, " hesaid, taking a hearty pull at his tankard; "the worst part was losing mymoney. Still, it's all in the day's work. Joe tells me that Elizabeth iswalking out with Gibson, so you see it has all happened as I bargainedfor. "

"I've heard so, " said Fraser. 

"It's rather soon after my death, " said Flower, thoughtfully; "she'sbeen driven into it by her mother, I expect. How is Poppy?"

Fraser told him. 

"I couldn't wish her in better hands, Jack, " said the other, heartily, when he had finished; "one of these days when she knows everything--atleast, as much as I shall tell her--she'll be as grateful to you as whatI am. "

"You've come back just in time, " said Fraser, slowly; "another week, andyou'd have lost her. "

"Lost her?" repeated Flower, staring. 

"She's going to New Zealand, " replied the other; "she's got somerelations there. She met an old friend of her father's the other day, Captain Martin, master of the _Golden Cloud_, and he has offered her apassage. They sail on Saturday from the Albert Dock. "

Flower pushed the tankard from him, and regarded him in consternation. 

"She mustn't go, " he said, decisively. 

Fraser shrugged his shoulders. "I tried to persuade her not to, but itwas no use. She said there was nothing to stay in England for; she'squite alone, and there is nobody to miss her. "

"Poor girl, " said Flower, softly, and sat crumbling his bread and gazingreflectively at a soda-water advertisement on the wall. He sat so longin this attitude that his companion also turned and studied it. 

"She mustn't go, " said Flower, at length. "I'll go down and see herto-morrow night. You go first and break the news to her, and I'll followon. Do it gently, Jack. It's quite safe; there's nobody she can talkto now; she's left the Wheelers, and I'm simply longing to see her. Youdon't know what it is to be in love, Jack. "

"What am I to tell her?" enquired the other, hastily. 

"Tell her I was saved, " was the reply. "I'll do the rest. By Jove, I'vegot it. "

He banged the table so hard that his plate jumped and the glasses in thebar rattled in protest. 

"Anything wrong with the grub?" enquired the landlord, severely. 

Flower, who was all excitement, shook his head. 

"Because if there is, " continued the landlord, "I'd sooner you spoke ofit than smash the table; never mind about hurting my feelings. "

He wiped down the counter to show that Flower's heated glances hadno effect upon _him_, withdrawing reluctantly to serve an impatientcustomer. 

"I'll go down to-morrow morning to the _Golden Cloud_ and try andship before the mast, " said Flower, excitably; "get married out in NewZealand, and then come home when things are settled. What do you thinkof that, my boy? How does that strike you?"

"How will it strike Cap'n Barber?" asked Fraser, as soon as he hadrecovered sufficiently to speak. 

Flower's eyes twinkled. "It's quite easy to get wrecked and picked uponce or twice, " he said, cheerfully. "I'll have my story pat by the timeI get home, even to the names of the craft I was cast away in. And I cansay I heard of Elizabeth's marriage from somebody I met in New Zealand. I'll manage all right. "

The master of the _Swallow_ gazed at him in help-less fascination. 

"They want hands on the _Golden Cloud_, " he said, slowly; "but whatabout your discharges?"

"I can get those, " said Flower, complacently; "a man with money andbrains can do anything. Lend me a pound or two before I forget it, willyou? And if you'll give me Poppy's address, I'll be outside the house atseven to-morrow. Lord, fancy being on the same ship with her for threemonths. "

He threw down a borrowed sovereign on the counter, and, ordering somemore drinks, placed them on the table. Fraser had raised his to his lipswhen he set it down again, and with a warning finger called the other'sattention to the remarkable behaviour of the door communicating with thenext bar, which, in open defiance of the fact that it possessed a patentcatch of the latest pattern, stood open at least three or four inches. 

"Draught?" questioned Flower, staring at the phenomenon. 

The other shook his head. "I'd forgotten those two chaps, " he said, in alow voice; "they've been listening. "

Flower shifted in his seat. "I'd trust Joe anywhere, " he said, uneasily, "but I don't know about the other chap. If he starts talking atSeabridge I'm done. I thought Joe was alone when I sent in for him. "

Fraser tapped his chin with his fingers. "I'll try and get 'em to shipwith me. I want a couple of hands, " he said, slowly. "I'll have themunder my eye then, and, besides, they're better at Bittlesea thanSeabridge in any case. "

He rose noisily, and followed by Flower entered the next bar. Twentyminutes afterwards Flower bade them all a hearty good-night, and Mr. Green, walking back to the schooner with Joe, dwelt complacently on theadvantages of possessing a style and address which had enabled them toexchange the rudeness of Ben for the appreciative amiability of CaptainFraser. 

Flower was punctual to the minute next evening, and shaking handshastily with Fraser, who had gone down to the door to wait for him, wentin alone to see Miss Tyrell. Fraser, smoking his pipe on the doorstep, gave him a quarter of an hour, and then went upstairs, Miss Tyrellmaking a futile attempt to escape from the captain's encircling armas he entered the room. Flower had just commenced the recital of hisadventures. He broke off as the other entered, but being urged by MissTyrell to continue, glanced somewhat sheepishly at his friend beforecomplying. 

"When I rose to the surface, " he said, slowly "and saw the ship drawingaway in the darkness and heard the cries on board, I swam as stronglyas I could towards it. I was weighed down by my clothes, and I had alsostruck my head going overboard, and I felt that every moment was mylast, when I suddenly bumped up against the life-belt. I had juststrength to put that on and give one faint hail, and then I think for atime I lost my senses. "

Miss Tyrell gave an exclamation of pity; Mr. Fraser made a noise whichmight have been intended for the same thing. 

"The rest of it was like a dream, " continued Flower, pressing the girl'shand; "sometimes my eyes were open and sometimes not. I heard the menpulling about and hailing me without being able to reply. By-and-by thatceased, the sky got grey and the water brown; all feeling had gone outof me. The sun rose and burnt in the salt on my face; then as I rose andfell like a cork on the waters, your face seemed to come before me, andI determined to live. "

"Beautiful, " said Fraser, involuntarily. 

"I determined to live, " repeated Flower, glancing at him defiantly. "Ibrushed the wet hair from my eyes, and strove to move my chilled limbs. Then I shouted, and anything more dreary than that shout across thewaste of water I cannot imagine, but it did me good to hear my ownvoice, and I shouted again. "

He paused for breath, and Fraser, taking advantage of the pause, got uphurriedly and left the room, muttering something about matches. 

"He doesn't like to hear of your sufferings, " said Poppy. 

"I suppose not, " said Flower, whose eloquence had received a chill, "butthere is little more to tell. I was picked up by a Russian brig boundfor Riga, and lay there some time in a state of fever. When I got betterI worked my passage home in a timber boat and landed yesterday. "

"What a terrible experience, " said Poppy, as Fraser entered the roomagain. 

"Shocking, " said the latter. 

"And now you've got your own ship again, " said the girl, "weren't yourcrew delighted to see you?"

"I've not seen them yet, " said Flower, hesitatingly. "I shipped onanother craft this morning before the mast. "

"Before the mast, " repeated the girl, in amazement. 

"Full-rigged ship _Golden Cloud_ bound for New Zealand, " said Flower, slowly, watching the effect of his words--"we're to be shipmates. "

Poppy Tyrell started up with a faint cry, but Flower drew her gentlydown again. 

"We'll be married in New Zealand, " he said, softly, "and then we'llcome back and I'll have my own again. Jack told me you were going out onher. Another man has got my craft; he lost the one he had before, andI want to give him a chance for a few months, poor chap, to redeem hischaracter. Besides, it'll be a change. We shall see the world. It'lljust be a splendid honeymoon. "

"You didn't tell Captain Martin?" enquired the girl, as she drew back inher chair and eyed him perplexedly. 

"Not likely, " said Flower, with a laugh. "I've shipped in the name ofRobert Orth. I bought the man's discharges this morning. He's lying inbed, poor chap, waiting for his last now, and hoping it'll be marked 'v. G. '"

Poppy was silent. For a moment her eyes, dark and inscrutable, metFraser's; then she looked away, and in a low voice addressed Flower. 

"I suppose you know best what is to be done, " she said, quietly. 

"You leave it to me, " said Flower, in satisfied tones. "I'm at thewheel. "

There was a long silence. Poppy got up and crossed to the window, and, resting her cheek on her hand, sat watching the restless life of thestreet. The room darkened slowly with the approach of evening. Flowerrose and took the seat opposite, and Fraser, who had been feeling in theway for some time, said that he must go. 

"You sail to-morrow evening, Jack?" said Flower, with a carelesshalf-turn towards him. 

"About six, " was the reply. 

"We sail Saturday evening at seven, " said Flower, and took the girl'shand in his own. "It will be odd to see you on board, Poppy, and notto be able to speak to you; but we shall be able to look at each other, sha'n't we?"

"Captain Martin is a strict disciplinarian, " said Poppy. 

"Well he can't prevent us looking at each other, " said Flower, "andhe can't prevent us marrying when we get to the other end. Good-night, Jack. Next time you see us we'll be an old married couple. "

"A quick passage and a safe return, " said Fraser. "Good-night. "

Poppy Tyrell just gave him her small hand, and that was all. Flower, giving him a hearty grip, accompanied him as far as the door of theroom. 

He looked back as he gained the pavement, and the last he saw of themthey were sitting at the open window. Flower leaned out and waved hishand in farewell, but Poppy made no sign. 

CHAPTER XX. 

In the rising seaport of Bittlesea Captain Fraser, walking slowly alongthe quay on the fateful Saturday, heard the hour of seven strike fromthe tower of the old church wedged in between the narrow streets at theback of the town. The little harbour with its motley collection of craftvanished; he heard the sharp, hoarse cries of command on the _GoldenCloud_, and saw the bridge slowly opening to give egress to the tugwhich had her in tow. He saw her shapely hull and tapering spars glideslowly down the river, while Poppy Tyrell, leaning against the side, took her last look at London. He came back with a sigh to reality: the_Swallow_ had dwindled to microscopical proportions, and lookeddirty; Bittlesea itself had the appearance of a village with foolishaspirations to be considered a port, and he noticed, with a strong senseof pity tempered with disdain, the attentions of two young townsmen to acouple of gawky girls in white frocks. 

With a feeling that the confinement of the house would be insupportable, he roamed idly about until the day gave place to twilight, and the redeye of the lightship on the horizon peeped suddenly across the water. Bittlesea was dull to aching point; a shirt-sleeved householder or twosat in his fragrant front-garden smoking, and a murmur of voices andshag tobacco floated out from tavern doorways. He paced up and down thequay, until the necessity of putting a stop to the vagaries of his crewfurnished him with a little wholesome diversion. 

In their quest for good beer Mr. Green and Joe had left themselves inthe hands of the other members of the crew, and had gone off with themin a body to the Cap and Bells, where, in a most pointed fashion, Mr. Green, who had been regarding the fireman's complexion for some timewith much displeasure, told the boy to go back to the ship and get hisface washed. 

"He's all right, ain't you, Tommy?" said the cook, coming to the rescue. 

"Boys ought to keep their faces clean, " said Mr. Green, impressively;"there's nothing more unpleasant than a face what wants washing. Youdon't want to grow up like that, do you? Look at it, Joe. "

"It might be cleaner, " said Joe, thus appealed to, slowly; "likewise itmight be dirtier. "

"It might be much dirtier, " said Mr. Green, emphatically; "anybody witheyes in their 'ed can see that. "

There was an awkward pause, during which the fireman, with one eyepeeping furtively from be-yond the rim of a quart pot, saw both Joe andthe cook kick Mr. Green's foot to call his attention to the fact thathis words might be misconstrued by another member of the party. 

"I 'ate toffs, " he said, deliberately, as he placed his mug on thecounter. 

"They're all right when you know 'em, Charlie, " said Joe, who was averseto having the evening spoiled at that early hour. 

"A real toff's bad enough, " continued the fireman, "but a himitationone--pah!" He buried his face in the pewter again, and laugheddiscordantly. 

"You go aboard and wash you face, Tommy, " repeated Mr. Green. "I shouldthink you'd find plenty o' soap in Charlie's bunk. "

"Do you know what you want?" demanded the fireman, regarding himfixedly. 

"I know what you want, " said Mr. Green, with a supercilious smile. 

"Oh! Wot?" said the other. 

The polite seaman rose to his feet and watched him carefully. "A banjo, "he replied. 

It was not the reply according to time-honoured formula, and Charlie, who was expecting something quite different, was at no pains to hide hisperplexity. "_A banjo?_" he repeated, slowly, "a banjo--a ban----?"

Light came to him suddenly, and he flew at Mr. Green with his fistswhirling. In a second the bar was in an uproar, and the well-meant andself-preservative efforts of Joe and the cook to get the combatants intothe street were frustrated by people outside blocking up the doors. Theycame out at last, and Fraser, who was passing, ran over just in timeto save Mr. Green, who was doing his best, from the consequences of asomewhat exaggerated fastidiousness. The incident, however, afforded awelcome distraction, and having seen Mr. Green off in the direction ofthe steamer, while the fireman returned to the public-house, he bent hissteps homewards and played a filial game at cards with his father beforeretiring. 

They sailed for London the following afternoon, Mr. Green taking ajaundiced view of the world from a couple of black eyes, while thefireman openly avowed that only the economical limitations of Natureprevented him from giving him more. Fraser, a prey to gentle melancholy, called them to order once or twice, and then left them to the mate, aman whose talent for ready invective was at once the admiration and envyof his peers. 

The first night in London he spent on board, and with pencil and papersat down to work out the position of the _Golden Cloud_. He pictured herwith snowy pinions outspread, passing down Channel. He pictured Poppysitting on the poop in a deck-chair and Flower coming as near as hiswork would allow, exchanging glances with her. Then he went up on deck, and, lighting his pipe, thought of that never-to-be-forgotten night whenPoppy had first boarded the _Foam_. 

The next night his mood changed, and unable to endure the confinementof the ship, he went for a lonely tramp round the streets. He hunground the Wheelers, and, after gazing at their young barbarians at play, walked round and looked at Flower's late lodgings. It was a dingy house, with broken railings and an assortment of papers and bottles in thefront garden, and by no means calculated to relieve depression. Fromthere he instinctively wandered round to the lodgings recently inhabitedby Miss Tyrell. 

He passed the house twice, and noted with gloom the already neglectedappearance of her front window. The Venetian blind, half drawn up, wasfive or six inches higher one side than the other, and a vase of fadedflowers added to the forlornness of the picture. In his present stateof mind the faded blooms seemed particularly appropriate, and suddenlydetermining to possess them, he walked up the steps and knocked at thedoor, trembling like a young housebreaker over his first job. 

"I think I left my pipe here the other night, " he stammered to the smallgirl who opened it. 

"I'll swear you didn't, " said the small damsel, readily. 

"Can I go up and see?" enquired Fraser, handing her some coppers. 

The small girl relented, and even offered to assist him in his search, but he waved her away, and going upstairs sat down and looked drearilyround the shabby little room. An execrable ornament of green and pinkpaper in the fireplace had fallen down, together with a little soot;there was dust on the table, and other signs of neglect. He crossed overto the window and secured two or three of the blooms, and was dryingthe stalks on his handkerchief when his eye suddenly lighted on a littlewhite ball on the mantel-piece, and, hardly able to believe in hisgood fortune, he secured a much-darned pair of cotton gloves, which hadapparently been forgotten in the hurry of departure. He unrolled them, and pulling out the little shrivelled fingers, regarded them withmournful tenderness. Then he smoothed them out, and folding them withreverent fingers, placed them carefully in his breastpocket. He thenbecame conscious that somebody was regarding his antics with amazementfrom the doorway. 

"_Mr. Fraser!_" said a surprised voice, which tried to be severe. 

Mr. Fraser bounded from his chair, and stood regarding the intruderwith a countenance in which every feature was outvying the other inamazement. 

"I thought--you--were on the _Golden Cloud_, " he stammered. 

Miss Tyrell shook her head and looked down. "I missed the ship, " shesaid, pensively. 

"Missed the ship?" shouted the other; "missed the ship? Did Flower missit too?"

"I'm afraid not, " said Miss Tyrell, even more pensively than before. 

"Good heavens, I never heard of such a thing, " said Fraser; "how everdid you manage to do it?"

"I went to lie down a little while on Saturday afternoon, " said Poppy, reflectively; "I'd got my box packed and everything ready; when I gotup it was past seven o'clock, and then I knew it was no use. Ships won'twait, you know. "

Fraser gazed at her in amaze. In his mind's eye he still saw the deckof the _Golden Cloud_; but Poppy's deck-chair was empty, and Flower, in place of exchanging glances with her, was walking about in a stateequally compounded, of wrath and bewilderment. 

"And you had given up your berth in the City?" said Fraser, at length, in concern. 

The consciousness of a little colour in her cheek which she could notrepress affected Miss Tyrell's temper. "No, " she said, sharply. 

"Didn't you intend to go, then?" asked the bewildered Fraser. 

"I--oh, will you give me my gloves, please, before I forget them?" saidMiss Tyrell, coldly. 

It was Fraser's turn to colour, and he burnt a rich crimson as he fishedthem out. 

"I was going to take care of them for you, " he said, awkwardly. "I cameto look after a pipe I thought I'd left here. "

"I saw you taking care of them, " was the reply. 

There was a pause, during which Miss Tyrell took a seat and, folding herhands in her lap, gazed at him with the calm gaze which comes of perfectmisdoing and the feminine determination not to own up to it. The roomwas no longer shabby, and Fraser was conscious of a strange exaltation. 

"I understood that you had given notice in the City, " he said, slowly;"but I'm very glad that you didn't. "

Miss Tyrell shook her head, and stooping down adjusted the fire-stoveornament. 

"Didn't you intend to go?" repeated the tactful seaman. 

"I'd left it open, " said Miss Tyrell, thoughtfully; "I hadn't definitelyaccepted Captain Martin's invitation. You jump at conclusions so, but ofcourse when I found that Captain Flower had shipped before the mast formy sake, why, I _had_ to go. "

"So you had, " said Fraser, staring. 

"There was no help for it, " continued Miss Tyrell. 

"Didn't seem like it, " said the more accurate Fraser. 

His head was in a whirl, and he tried vainly to think of the exact termsin which she had announced her intention to emigrate, and combated theobjections which he thought himself justified in advancing. He began toremember in a misty, un-certain fashion that they were somewhat vagueand disjointed, and for one brief moment he wondered whether she hadever had any idea of going at all. One glance at the small figure ofprobity opposite was enough, and he repelled the idea as unworthy. 

"I believe that you are sorry I didn't go, " said Poppy, suddenly. 

"I'm sorry for Flower, " said the other. 

"He will be back in six or seven months, " said Poppy, gently; "that willsoon pass away. I shall not be very old to marry even then. Perhaps itis all for the best--I don't like--"

"Don't like?" prompted Fraser. 

"Don't like to be hurried, " continued Miss Tyrell, looking down. 

There was another pause. The girl got up and, walking to the window, gazed out upon the street. 

"There is a nice air in the streets now, " she said at length, withoutturning round. 

Fraser started. Politeness and inclination fought with conscience. Theallies won, but inclination got none of the credit. 

"Would you care to go for a walk?" he asked. 

Miss Tyrell turned and regarded him with an unmistakable air ofsurprise. 

"No, thank you, " she said, in a manner which indicated reproof. 

Fraser shifted restlessly. "I thought that was what you meant, " he said, indignantly. 

"You jump at conclusions, as I said before, " remarked Miss Tyrell. "Itwouldn't be right. "

"I don't see any harm in it, " said Fraser, stoutly; "we've been before, and Flower knows of it. "

The girl shook her head. "No, " she said, firmly. 

To her surprise, that ended the matter. The rattle of traffic and thehum of voices came in at the open window; the room seemed unwontedlyquiet by contrast. Miss Tyrell sat reaping the empty reward of virtue, and bestowing occasional glances on the fine specimen of marineobtuseness in the armchair. 

"I hope that I am not keeping _you_ from a walk, " she observed, atlength. 

"No, " said Fraser. 

He rose in confusion, wondering whether this was a hint for him to go, and after a supreme mental effort decided that it was, and murmuredsomething about getting back to the ship. Poppy shook hands with himpatiently. It is always a sad thing to see a fine young man lacking inintelligence. Some of her pity perhaps showed in her eyes. 

"Are you going?" she asked, with a shade of surprise in her voice. 

Fraser gazed at her in perplexity. "I suppose so, " he murmured. 

"Which means that you want a walk, but don't like leaving me here alone, I suppose, " said Miss Tyrell, resignedly. "Very well, I will come. "

She left him for a moment in search of her hat, and then, putting asidethe gloves she was about to don in favour of those he had endeavoured tosecrete, led the way downstairs. Her composure was sufficient for two, which was just the quantity required at that moment. 

CHAPTER XXI. 

The summer passed quickly. All too quickly for Captain Barber, who saidthat it was the shortest he ever remembered. But, then, his memory, although greatly improved, was still none of the best, many thingswhich Mrs. Church fondly and frequently referred to having escaped italtogether. 

He even forgot that he was to be married in October, and in thesecircumstances Mrs. Gibson, Miss Banks, and Mrs. Church put their bannsup. This acted as a specific, and Captain Barber, putting the bestface he could on the matter, went and interviewed the verger on his ownbehalf. 

The wedding-day found him resigned, but dazed, The morning air was crispand chill, with a faint odour of dead leaves and the aromatic smell ofchrysanthemums which decked the front garden. The house was as cleanas a new pin, or the deck of the _Foam_, which, having been thoroughlyscrubbed down in honour of the occasion, was now slowly drying in thesun. Down below, the crew, having finished their labours for the day, were anxiously attiring themselves in their Sunday best. 

The grizzled head of Ben popped out at the companion and sniffedheartily at the smell of wet deck. His coat was of black, and his newboots creaked deliciously as he slowly paced the deck and affectedignorance of the little cluster of heads at the forecastle hatch. Hewent below again, and a murmur, gentle but threatening, rose againstTim. 

"You wait, " said the youth, sharply. 

"If you've made me waste eighteenpence, Timmy, " said a stout A. B. Named Jones, "the Lord ha' mercy on you, 'cos I won't. "

The cook, who was clinging to the ladder with his head level with thedeck, gave an excited gasp. "Tim's all right, " he said; "look there. "

The last words were jerked out of him by reason of the weight of hisfriends, who were now leaning on him, breathing heavily under thestress of strong excitement. Ben was on deck again, and in an obviouslyunconcerned manner was displaying a silk hat of great height to allwho cared to look. The mate's appearance alone, without the flags whichdressed the schooner, would have indicated a festival. 

Three or four labourers sunning themselves on the quay were muchimpressed and regarded him stolidy; a fisherman, presuming upon the factthat they both earned their living on the water, ventured to addresshim. 

"Now, then, " said Jones, as he took something reverently from an emptybunk, "who's going up fust?"

"I ain't, " said Tim. 

"Wot about you, cookie?" said Jones. 

"Well, wot about me?" demanded the other. 

"I thought p'r'aps you'd like to lead the way, " said Mr. Jones, mildly. 

"You thought wrong, then, " said the cook, shortly. 

"It was jist a compliment, " urged Mr. Jones. 

"I don't like flattery, " said the cook; "never did. "

Mr. Jones sighed and shook his head irresolutely. The other A. B. Pattedhim on the back. 

"You look a fair bloomin' treat, " he said, heartily. "You go up fust;you look as though you've slep' in one a'most. "

"None o' your larks, you know, " remarked Mr. Jones, with suspicioussourness; "no backing out of it and leavin' me there by myself. "

There was a chorus of virtuous but profane indignation. It was soindignant that Mr. Jones apologised, and stood for some time regardingthe article in his hand with the face of a small child eyeing a largepowder. Then he clapped it on his head and went on deck. 

The mate was just talking to the fisherman about an uncle of his (bornsince his promotion) who had commanded a brig, when his voice failedhim, and he gazed open-mouthed at a stout seaman who had just come up ondeck. On the stout seaman's face was the look of one who sees a visionmany miles off; on the stout seaman's head was a high hat of antiquepattern which had suffered in the brushing. To avoid the mate's eyehe folded his arms and, leaning over the side, gazed across the river. Words trembled on the mate's lips, but they died away in a squeak as alittle top-hatted procession of three issued coyly from the forecastleand, ranging itself beside Mr. Jones, helped him to look across theriver. 

"I never did, " said the fisherman. "What _are_ we a-coming to?"

The mate did not stay to inform him. He walked hastily to the quartetteand, bursting with rage, asked Jones what he meant by it. 

"Mean by wot, sir?" asked Jones, in surprise. 

"Top-hats, " said the mate, choking. 

The four turned and regarded him stolidly, keeping as close togetheras possible for the sake of moral support and the safety of theirhead-gear. 

"For the weddin', sir, " said Jones, as though that explained everything. 

"You take 'em off, " said the mate, sharply. "I won't let you wear 'em. "

"I beg your pardin, " said Jones, with great politeness, "we got these'ere 'ats for the weddin', an' we're a-goin' to wear 'em. "

He took the offending article off and brushed it tenderly with hiscoat-sleeve, while the furious mate looked assault and battery atthe other three. Tim, whose hat came well down over his eyes, feltcomparatively safe; but the cook, conscious that his perched lightly onthe top of his head, drew back a pace. Then he uttered an exclamation asCaptain Nibletts, who was officiating as best man, came hurriedly downthe cliff. 

"Hats?" said the little skipper, disengaging himself from the mate'sgrasp, as he came on board. "Yes, I don't mind. "

"Wot about Capt'in Barber?" demanded the mate, impressively. 

"If they was pudding-basins 'e wouldn't mind, " said Nibletts, testily;"he's that nervous 'e don't know what 'e's doing hardly. He was ravinglike a madman for five minutes cos 'e couldn't fasten his collar, andthen I found he'd forgot to put his shirt on. He don't care. "

He hurried down to the cabin and then came bustling up again. His smallface was strained with worry, and the crew eyed him respectfully as hecame forward and dealt out white satin favours. 

"Cap'in Barber'll be all right with you looking arter 'im, sir, " saidJones, with strong conviction. 

"That he will, " said the cook, nodding. 

"There's some whisky in a bottle in my locker, cook, " said Nibletts, dancing about nervously; "give the hands one drink each, cook. Only one, mind. "

The men thanked him, and with kindly eyes watched him go ashore. Thecook went down for the whisky, and Tim, diving into the forecastle, brought up four mugs. 

"He must ha' meant another bottle, " said Jones, as the cook came slowlyup again with a bottle containing one dose. 

"There ain't another, " said the cook; "he's 'alf off 'is 'ed. "

There was a pained silence. "We must toss for it, " said Jones, atlength; "that is, unless you chaps don't want it. "

"Toss, " said three voices speaking as one. 

Jones sighed, and the coins were produced. The prize fell to Tim, and heleaned against the windlass and slowly poured the yellow liquid into hismug. 

"There's more than I thought there was, " remarked Mr. Jones, insurprise. 

"Bottles is deceiving, " said the cook. 

"It ain't the fust toss as Tim 'as won, " said the third man, darkly. 

The ordinary seaman made no reply, but, stepping over to the water-cask, added with great care a little water. 

"Here's your 'ealth, chaps, " he said, good-naturedly, as he drank, "andmay you never want a drink. "

"You've never drunk all that, Tim?" said Mr. Jones, anxiously. 

Tim shook his head. "There's too much to drink all at once, " he said, gravely, and sat, with the mug on his knee, gazing ashore. "It's warmingme all over, " he mused. "I never tasted sich whisky afore. I'm in agentle glow. "

So was the cook; a glow which increased to fever heat as the youthraised the mug to his lips again, and slowly drained it and handed it tohim to wash up. 

A little later the men went ashore, and strolling aimlessly up and downthe road, passed the time in waiting for the ceremony and making suddendashes after small boys who were throwing at their hats and hittingtheir heads. 

Seabridge itself was quiet, but Mrs. Banks' house was in a state offerment. Ladies with pins in their mouths wandered about restlesslyuntil, coming into the orbit of one of the brides, they stuck one or twointo her and then drew back to behold the effect. Miss Banks, inwhite satin, moved about stiffly; Mrs. Church, in heliotrope, glancedrestlessly up the road every time she got near the window. 

"Now you sit down, " said one lady, at length, "both of you. All you'vegot to do now is to wait for the gentlemen. "

It was whispered that Mr. Gibson's delay was due to the fact that he hadgone up for Captain Barber, and as time passed a certain restlessnessbecame apparent in the assembly, and sympathetic glances were thrown inthe direction of Mrs. Church. Places at the window were at a premium, and several guests went as far as the garden gate and looked up theroad. Still no Captain Barber. 

"It's time they were here, " said Mrs. Banks at last, in a stern voice. 

There was a flutter at the gate, and a pretty girl heliographed with hereyes that the parties of the other part were in sight. A minute ortwo later they came into sight of the window. Captain Barber, clad inbeautiful raiment, headed the _cort�ge_, the rear of which was broughtup by the crew of the _Foam_ and a cloud of light skirmishers whichhovered on their flanks. As they drew near, it was noticed that CaptainBarber's face was very pale, and his hands trembled, but he entered thehouse with a firm step and required no assistance. 

Of his reception there was never for a moment any doubt. Young matronssmiled and shook their heads at him, middle-aged matrons took him by thehand, while old ladies committed themselves to the statement that theyhad seen matrimony in his eye for years. He received the full measureaccorded to a very distinguished convert, and, taking a chair placedagainst the wall, surveyed the company with the air of a small boy whohas strayed into a hostile alley. A little natural curiosity found vent. 

"Now, what first put it into your head to get married?" ask one fairenquirer. 

"Mrs. Church, " said the ex-mariner, simply. 

"Yes, of course, " said the matron; "but was it love at first sight, ordid it grow on you before you knew it?"

Captain Barber blushed. "It growed on me afore I knew it, " he replied, fervently. 

"I suppose, " said a lady of a romantic turn of mind, "that you didn'tknow what was happening at first?"

"I did not, ma'am, " agreed the Captain, in trembling tones. "Nobody wasmore surprised than wot I was. "

"How strange, " said two or three voices. 

They regarded him tenderly, and the youngest bridesmaid, a terriblechild of ten, climbed up on his knee and made audible comparisonsbetween the two bridegrooms, which made Mr. Gibson smile. 

"Time we started, " said Mrs. Banks, raising her voice above the din. "Cap'in Barber, you and Mr. Gibson and the other gentlemen had betterget to the church. "

The men got up obediently, and in solemn silence formed up in the littlepassage, and then started for the church some two hundred yards distant, the crew of the _Foam_ falling in behind unchallenged. 

To this day Captain Barber does not know how he got there, and heresolutely declines to accept Captain Niblett's version as the mereoffspring of a disordered imagination. He also denies the truth of astatement circulated in the town that night that, instead of replyingto a leading question in the manner plainly laid down in the ChurchService, he answered, "I suppose so. "

He came out of the church with a buzzing in his ears and a mist beforehis eyes. Something was clinging to his arm, which he tried severaltimes to shake off. Then he discovered that it was Mrs. Barber. 

Of the doings of the crew of the _Foam_ that night it were better not tospeak. Suffice it to say that when they at length boarded their ship Timwas the only one who still possessed a hat, and in a fit of pride at thecircumstance, coupled, perhaps, with other reasons, went to bed in it. He slept but ill, however, and at 4 A. M. , the tide being then just onthe ebb, the only silk hat in the forecastle went bobbing up and down onits way to the sea. 

CHAPTER XXII. 

A FINE October gave way to a damp and dreary November; a month of mistsand fogs, in which shipping of all sizes and all nations played blindman's buff at sea, and felt their way, mere voices crying in thewilderness, up and down the river. The _Swallow_, with a soul too largefor its body, cannoned a first-class battleship off the Medway, and witha thoughtfulness too often lacking at sea, stood by and lowered a boat, whereupon the captain, who had been worrying about his paint, invented, in his surprise, a brand-new adjective for the use of senior officers ofthe British Navy. 

Over three months had elapsed since the _Golden Cloud_ set out on herlong voyage; three months during which Fraser, despite his better sense, had been a constant visitor of Poppy Tyrell's, and had assisted herin the search for fresh lodgings to avoid the attentions of Mr. BobWheeler, who, having discovered her whereabouts, had chosen to renew hissuit. 

On two or three occasions the girl had accompanied him on board thesteamer, and at such times it was Mr. Green's pleasure to wink in afrenzied manner at Mr. Joe Smith and to make divers bets of pints ofbeer, which made that thirsty soul half crazy to listen to. He also saidthat any one with half an eye could see what was in the wind. 

"And a very nice couple they'll make, too, " said Joe, solemnly. 

"An' what about Cap'in Flower?" suggested Mr. Green; "she's evidentthe young lady he was talking about that night, and Tommy's heard 'emspeaking about him once or twice, too. "

Joe shuffled uneasily. He was beginning to entertain a considerableregard for his new skipper, dating from the time he discovered thathis sinister suspicions concerning him were unfounded. He had moreoverconceived a dog-like admiration for Poppy Tyrell. 

"That's 'is business, " he said, shortly; "judging by what you 'eard inthat pub, Cap'in Flower knows where to put 'is hand on one or two moreif 'e wants 'em. "

He walked off in dudgeon, ignoring a question by Mr. Green as to whosefoot kep' the door open, and felt dimly the force of the diction thatno man can serve two masters; and, with a view to saving himself worry, dismissed the matter from his mind until some weeks afterwards it wasforcibly revived by the perusal of a newspaper which the engineer hadbrought on board. Without giving himself time for due reflection, he ranup on deck and approached the skipper. 

"_Golden Cloud's_ in the paper as overdue, sir, " he said, respectfully. 

"What is?" enquired Fraser, sharply. 

"_Golden Cloud_, sir; boat Cap'in Flower is on, " said Joe, slowly. 

Fraser regarded him sternly. "What do you know about it?" he asked. 

Joe looked round helplessly. At such moments Willyum Green was a towerof strength, but at the present time he was fooling about helping theship's cat to wash itself. 

"What do you know about it?" repeated Fraser. 

"Will-yum told me, sir, " said Joe, hastily. 

Mr. Green being summoned, hastily put down the cat and came aft, whileJoe, with a full confidence in his friend's powers, edged a few feetaway, and listened expectantly as the skipper interrogated him. 

"Yes, sir, I did tell Joe, sir, " he answered, with a reproachful glanceat that amateur. "I met Cap'in Flower that evening again, late, an' hetold me himself. I'm sorry to see by this morning's paper that his shipis overdue. "

"That'll do, " said Fraser, turning away. 

The men moved off slowly, Mr. Green's reproaches being forestalled bythe evidently genuine compliments of Joe. 

"If I'd got a 'ead like you, Will-yum, " he said, enviously, "I'd be aloryer or a serlicitor, or some-think o' the kind. "

Days passed and ran into weeks, but the _Golden Cloud_ was stillunspoken. Fraser got a paper every day when ashore, but in vain, untilat length one morning, at Bittlesea, in the news columns of the _DailyTelegraph_, the name of the missing ship caught his eye. He folded thepaper hurriedly, and breathed hard as he read:--

"Missing ship, _Golden Cloud_. 

"Rio Janeiro, Thursday. 

"The barque _Foxglove_, from Melbourne to Rio Janeiro, has just arrivedwith five men, sole survivors of the ship _Golden Cloud_, which theyreport as sunk in collision with a steamer, name unknown, ten weeks outfrom London. Their names are Smith, Larsen, Petersen, Collins and Gooch. No others saved. "

In a dazed fashion he read the paragraph over and over again, closelyscanning the names of the rescued men. Then he went up on deck, and beckoning to Joe, pointed with a trembling finger to the fatalparagraph. Joe read it slowly. 

"And Cap'in Flower wasn't one o' them, sir?" he asked, pointing to thenames. 

Fraser shook his head, and both men stood for some time in silence. 

"He's done it this time, and no mistake, " said Joe, at last. "Well, 'ewas a good sailorman and a kind master. "

He handed the paper back, and returned to his work and to confer in alow voice with Green, who had been watching them. Fraser went back tothe cabin, and after sitting for some time in a brown study, wrote offto Poppy Tyrell and enclosed the cutting. 

He saw her three days later, and was dismayed and surprised to find hertaxing herself with being the cause of the adventurous mariner's death. 

"He would never have heard of the _Golden Cloud_ if it hadn't been forme, " she said, trembling. "His death is at my door. "

Fraser tried to comfort her and straining metaphor to the utmost, saidthat if the finger of Providence had not made her oversleep herself shewould undoubtedly have shared the same fate. 

The girl shook her head. 

"He shipped before the mast for the sake of being on the same ship as Iwas, " she said, with quivering lip; "it is not every man who would havedone that, and I--I--"

"Overslept yourself, " said Fraser, consolingly. 

Miss Tyrell made an impatient gesture, but listened hopefully as hervisitor suggested that it was quite possible Flower had got away inanother boat. 

"I'll watch the paper every day, " she said, brightening; "you miss someat sea. "

But nothing came of the watching. The _Golden Cloud_ had had itsobituary in the paper in large type, and that was all--a notice tocertain women and children scattered about Europe to go into mourningand to the owners to get another ship. 

By the end of the couple of months Fraser had given up all hope. Hewas very sorry for his unfortunate friend, but his sorrow was at timesalmost tempered by envy as he pondered over the unexpected change whichhad come over his relations with Poppy Tyrell. The old friendly footinghad disappeared, and her manner had become distant as though, now thatthe only link which connected them was broken, there was no need forfurther intercourse. The stiffness which ensued made his visits moreand more difficult. At last he missed calling one night when he was inLondon, and the next time he called the girl was out. It was a fortnightbefore he saw her, and the meeting was embarrassing to both. 

"I'm sorry I was out last time you came, " said Poppy. 

"It didn't matter, " said Fraser. 

Conversation came to a standstill. Miss Tyrell, with her toes onthe fender, gazed in a contemplative fashion at the fire. "I didn'tknow----" began Fraser, who was still standing. 

He cleared his voice and began again. "I didn't know whether you wouldrather I left off coming, " he said, slowly. 

Her gaze travelled slowly from the fire to his face. "You must pleaseyourself, " she said, quietly. 

"I would rather please you, " he said, steadily. 

The girl regarded him gravely. "It is rather inconvenient for yousometimes, " she suggested, "and I am afraid that I am not very goodcompany. "

Fraser shook his head eagerly. "It is not that at all, " he said hastily. 

Poppy made no reply, and there was another long silence. Then Fraseradvanced and held out his hand. 

"Good-bye, " he said, quietly. 

"Good-bye, " said the girl. She smiled brightly, and got up to see himdownstairs. 

"I wanted to say something before I went, " said Fraser, slowly, as hepaused at the street-door, "and I will say it. "

Miss Tyrell, raising her eyebrows somewhat at his vehemence, waitedpatiently. 

"I have loved you from the moment I saw you, " said Fraser, "and I shallgo on loving you till I die. Good-bye. "

He pressed her hand again, and walked down the little front gardeninto the street. At the gate he paused and looked round at Poppy stillstanding in the lighted doorway; he looked round again a few yards downthe street, and again farther on. The girl still stood there; in themomentary glimpse he had of her he fancied that her arm moved. He cameback hastily, and Miss Tyrell regarded him with unmistakable surprise. 

"I thought--you beckoned me, " he stammered. 

"Thought I beckoned you?" repeated the girl. 

"I thought so, " murmured Fraser. "I beg your pardon, " and turnedconfusedly to go again. 

"So--I--did, " said a low voice. 

Fraser turned suddenly and faced her; then, as the girl lowered her eyesbefore his, he re-entered the house, and closing the door led her gentlyupstairs. 

"I didn't like you to go like that, " said Miss Tyrell, in explanation, as they entered her room. 

Fraser regarded her steadfastly and her eyes smiled at him. He drew hertowards him and kissed her, and Miss Tyrell, trembling with somethingwhich might have been indignation, hid her face on his shoulder. 

For a long time, unless certain foolish ejaculations of Fraser's mightcount as conversation, they stood silent; then Poppy, extricatingherself from his arm, drew back and regarded him seriously. 

"It is not right, " she said, slowly; "you forget. "

"It is quite right, " said Fraser; "it is as right as anything can be. "

Poppy shook her head. "It has been wrong all along, " she said, soberly, "and Captain Flower is dead in consequence. I never intended to go onthe _Golden Cloud_, but I let him go. And now he's dead. He only went tobe near me, and while he was drowning I was going out with you. I havebeen very wicked. "

Fraser protested, and, taking her hand, drew her gently towards himagain. 

"He was very good to my father, " said Poppy, struggling faintly. "Idon't think I can. "

"You must, " said Fraser, doggedly; "I'm not going to lose you now. It isno good looking at me like that. It is too late. "

He kissed her again, secretly astonished at his own audacity, and thehigh-handed way in which he was conducting things. Mixed with his joywas a half-pang, as he realised that he had lost his fear of PoppyTyrell. 

"I promised my father, " said the girl, presently. "I did not want to getmarried, but I did not mind so much Until--"

"Until, " Fraser reminded her, fondly. 

"Until it began to get near, " said the girl; "then I knew. "

She took her chair by the fire again, and Fraser, placing his besideit, they sat hand in hand discussing the future. It was a comprehensivefuture, and even included Captain Flower. 

"If he should be alive, after all, " said Poppy, with unmistakablefirmness, "I shall still marry him if he wishes it. "

Fraser assented. "If he should ever turn up again, " he said, deliberately, "I will tell him all about it. But it was his own desirethat I should watch over you if anything happened to him, so he is asmuch to blame as I am. If he had lived I should never have said a wordto you. You know that. "

"I know, " said Poppy, softly. 

Her hand trembled in his, and his grasp tightened as though nothingshould loosen it; but some thousands of miles away Captain Flower, fromthe deck of a whaler, was anxiously scanning the horizon in search ofthe sail which was to convey him back to England. 

CHAPTER XXIII. 

Time as it rolled on set at rest any doubts Miss Tyrell might have hadconcerning the fate of Captain Flower, and under considerable pressurefrom Fraser, she had consented to marry him in June. The only realreason for choosing that month was, that it was close at hand, thoughFraser supplied her with several others to choose from. Their engagementcould hardly have been said to have been announced, for with theexception of old Mr. Fraser and the crew of the _Swallow_, who hadgleaned the fact for themselves without any undue strain on theirintellects, there was nobody to tell. 

The boy was the first to discover it. According to his own indignantaccount, he went down to the cabin to see whether there was anything hecould do, and was promptly provided with three weeks' hard labour byhis indignant skipper. A little dissertation in which he indulged in theforecastle on division of labour met with but scant response; Joe saidthat work was good for boys, and Mr. Green said that he knew a boy whoworked eighteen hours a day, and then used to do sums in his sleep toimprove his education. The other men set their wits to work then, andproved to have so large an acquaintance with a type of boy that Tommyloathed, that he received a mild chastisement for impertinence to hiselders and betters. 

It wanted but two days to the wedding. The _Swallow_ was lying in theriver, her deck unoccupied except for Mr. Green and the boy, who weresmoking in the bows, and the ship's cat, which, with one eye on Mr. Green, was stalking the frying-pan. Fraser had gone ashore on businessconnected with his wedding-garments, and Poppy Tyrell, with all herearthly belongings in a couple of boxes, sat in the cabin dreaming ofher future. 

A boat bumped against the side of the steamer, and Mr. Green, lookinground, observed the long form of Joe scrambling over the side. Hisappearance betokened alarm and haste, and Mr. Green, after a briefremark on the extravagance, not to say lordliness, of a waterman's skiffwhen a hail would have taken the ship's boat to him, demanded to knowwhat was the matter. 

"Send that boy below, " said Joe, hastily. 

"What for?" enquired the gentleman interested, rebelliously. 

"You go below, " repeated Joe, sternly, "'fore I take you by the scruffo' your little neck and drop you down. "

The boy, with a few remarks about the rights of man in general andships' boys in particular, took his departure, and Joe, taking thestartled Mr. Green by the arm, led him farther aft. 

"You've got a 'ead on you Will-yum, I know, " he said, in a fiercewhisper. 

"People have said so, " remarked the other, modestly. "What's the row?"

For answer, Joe pointed to the cabin, and that with so much expressionon his features that Mr. Green, following his gaze, half expected to seesomething horrible emerge from the companion. 

"It's all up, " said the tall seaman, poetically. "You can put thewedding-dress away in brown paper, and tell the church bells as there isno call for 'em to ring: Cap'n Flower has turned up ag'in. "

"WHAT?" cried the astonished Mr. Green. 

"I see 'im, " replied Joe. "I was just goin' on the wharf as I passed tospeak to old George, when I see 'im talking to 'im. He didn't see me, an' I come off 'ere as fast as my legs could carry me. Now, wot's to bedone? You've got the 'ead-piece. "

Mr. Green scratched the article in question and smiled feebly. 

"On'y two days, and they would ha' been married, " said Joe; "bit 'ard, ain't it? I'm glad as I can be as he's safe, but he might ha' waited aday or two longer. "

"Did George seem scared?" enquired his friend. 

"Wot's that got to do with it?" demanded Joe, violently. "Are you goin'to set that 'ead-piece to work or are you not?"

Mr. Green coughed confusedly, and attempted to think with a brain whichwas already giddy with responsibility. 

"I don't want to do anything that isn't straight and gentlemanly, " heremarked. 

"Straight?" repeated Joe. "Look 'ere! Cap'n Fraser's our old man, ain'the? Very good, it's our dooty to stand by 'im. But, besides that, it'sfor the young lady's sake: it's easy to see that she's as fond of himas she can be, and she's that sort o' young lady that if she come up nowand told me to jump overboard, I'd do it. "

"You could swim ashore easy, " asserted Mr. Green. 

"They was to be married Thursday morning, " continued Joe, "and nowhere's Cap'n Flower and no 'ead-piece on the ship. Crool, I call it. "

"She's a very nice young lady, " said the mortified Mr. Green; "always apleasant smile for everybody. "

"He'll come aboard 'ere as safe as heggs is heggs, " said Joe, despondently. "Wot's to be done?"

He folded his arms on the side and stood ruefully watching the stairs. He was quite confident that there were head-pieces walking the earth, to which a satisfactory solution of this problem would have afforded nodifficulty whatever, and he shook his own sadly, as he thought of itslimitations. 

"It only wants a little artfulness, Will-yum, " he suggested, encouragingly. 

"Get hold of him and make him drunk for three days, " murmured Mr. Green, in a voice so low that he half hoped Joe would not hear it. 

"And then boil 'im, " said the indignant seaman, without looking round. "Ah! Here he comes. Now you've got to be astonished, mind; but don'tmake a noise, in case it fetches the young lady up. "

He pointed to the stairs, and his friend, going to his side, saw apassenger just stepping into a boat. The two men then turned away until, at sight of Captain Flower's head appearing above the side, they wentoff into such silent manifestations of horror and astonishment that hefeared for their reason. 

"It's 'is voice, " said Joe, hastily, as Flower bawled out to them withinconsiderate loudness. "I never thought to see you ag'in, sir; I 'eardyou was drowned months and months ago. "

He took the captain's proffered hand somewhat awkwardly, and stoodclosely scanning him. The visitor was bronzed with southern suns, andlooked strong and well. His eye was bright and his manner retained allits old easy confidence. 

"Ah, I've been through something since I saw you last, my lad, " he said, shaking his head. "The great thing is, Joe, to always keep your headabove water. "

"Yessir, " said the seaman, slowly; "but I 'eard as 'ow you went downwith the _Golden Cloud_, sir. "

"So I did, " said Flower, somewhat boastfully, "and came up again withthe nearest land a mile or two under my feet. It was dark, but the seawas calm, and I could see the brute that sunk us keeping on her way. Then I saw a hen-coop bobbing up and down close by, and I got to it justin time, and hung on to it until I could get my breath again and shout. I heard a hail a little way off, and by-and-by I got along-side two ofour chaps making themselves comfortable on two or three spars. Therewere three drowned fowls in my coop, and we finished them on the fourthday just as a whaler hove in sight and took us off. We were on herover four months, and then we sighted the barque _California_, homewardbound, and she brought us home. I landed at the Albert Docks thismorning, and here I am, hard as nails. "

Joe, with a troubled eye in the direction of the cabin, murmured thatit did him credit, and Mr-Green made a low, hissing noise, intended tosignify admiration. Flower, with a cheery smile, looked round the deck. 

"Where's Fraser?" he enquired. 

"He's ashore, sir, " said Joe, hastily. "I don't know when he'll beback. "

"Never mind, I'll wait, " was the reply. "George was telling me he is tobe married on Thursday. "

Joe gasped and eyed him closely. 

"So I've 'eard, sir. "

"And, Captain Barber's married, too, George tells me, " said Flower. "Isuppose that's right?"

"So I've 'eard, sir, " said Joe, again. 

Flower turned and paced a little up and down the deck, deep in thought. He had arrived in London three hours before to find that Poppy had lefther old lodgings without leaving any clue as to her whereabouts. Thenhe had gone on to the Wheelers, without any result, so far as he wasconcerned, although the screams of the unfortunate Mrs. Wheeler werestill ringing in his ears. 

"I'll go down below and wait, " he said, stopping before the men. "TellFraser I'm there, or else he'll be startled. I nearly killed poor oldGeorge. The man's got no pluck at all. "

He moved slowly towards the cabin and Poppy, leaving the men exchangingglances of hopeless consternation. Then, as he turned to descend, thedesperate Joe ran up and laid a detaining hand on his sleeve. 

"You can't go down there, " he whispered, and dragged him forcibly away. 

"Why not?" demanded the other, struggling. "Let go, you fool. "

He wrenched himself free, and stood gazing angrily at the excitedseaman. 

"There's a lady down there, " said the latter, in explanation. 

"Well, I sha'n't eat her, " said the indignant Flower. "Don't you putyour hands on me again, my lad, or you'll repent it. Who Is it?"

Joe eyed him helplessly and, with a dim idea of putting off thediscovery as long as possible, mysteriously beckoned him forward. 

"Who is it?" asked the puzzled Flower, advancing a pace or two. 

The seaman hesitated. Then a sudden inspiration, born of the memories oflast year's proceedings, seized him, and he shook with the brilliancyof it. He looked significantly at Mr. Green, and his voice trembled withexcitement. 

"The lady who used to come down to the _Foam_ asking for Mr. Robinson, "he stammered. 

"_What?_" said the dismayed Flower, coming briskly forward andinterposing two masts, the funnel, and the galley between himself andthe cabin. "Why on earth didn't you say so before?"

"Well, I didn't know what to do, sir, " said Joe, humbly; "it ain't forthe likes of me to interfere. "

Flower knit his brows, and tapped the deck with his foot. 

"What's she doing down there?" he said, irritably; "_she's_ not going tomarry Fraser, is she?"

Joe gulped. 

"Yessir, " he said, promptly. 

"Yessir, " said Mr. Green, with an intuitive feeling that a lie of suchproportions required backing. 

Flower stood in amaze, pondering the situation, and a grin slowly brokethe corners of his mouth. 

"Don't tell Fraser I've been here, " he said, at length. 

"No, sir, " said Joe, eagerly. 

"I'll see him in a day or two, " said Flower, "after he's married. Youunderstand me, Joe?"

"Yessir, " said Joe, again. "Shall I put you ashore, sir?"

He was almost dancing with impatience lest Fraser or Poppy should spoilhis plans by putting in an appearance, but before Flower could replyMr. Green gave a startled exclamation, and the captain, with a readinessborn of his adventures of the last year, promptly vanished down theforecastle as Miss Tyrell appeared on deck. Joe closed the scuttle, andwith despair gnawing at his vitals sat on it. 

Unconscious of the interest she was exciting, Poppy Tyrell, who hadtired of the solitude of the cabin, took a seat on a camp-stool, and, folding her hands in her lap, sat enjoying the peace and calm of thesummer evening. Joe saw defeat in the very moment of victory; even whilehe sat, the garrulous Tommy might be revealing State secrets to thecredulous Flower. 

"Get her down below, " he whispered, fiercely, to Mr. Green. "Quick!"

His friend stared at him aghast, but made no movement. He looked at theunconscious Poppy, and then back at the mouthing figure seated on thescuttle. His brain was numbed. Then a little performance on Charlie'spart a week or two before, which had cost that gentleman his berth, occurred to him, and he moved slowly forward. 

For a moment the astonished Joe gazed at him in wrathful bewilderment;then his brow cleared, and his old estimate of his friend was revivedagain. Mr. Green lurched rather than walked, and, getting as far as thegalley, steadied himself with one hand, and stood, with a foolish smile, swaying lightly in the breeze. From the galley he got with great care tothe side of the ship opposite Poppy, and, clutching the shrouds, beamedon her amiably. The girl gave one rapid glance at him and then, as hetottered to the wheel and hung on by the spokes, turned her head away. What it cost the well-bred Mr. Green to stagger as he came by heragain and then roll helplessly at her feet, will never be known, andhe groaned in spirit as the girl, with one scornful glance in hisdirection, rose quietly and went below again. 

Satisfied that the coast was clear, he rose to his feet and signalledhurriedly to Joe, then he mounted sentry over the companion, grinningfeebly at the success of his manoeuvres as he heard a door closed andlocked below. 

"You pull me round to the wharf, Joe, " said Flower, as he tumbledhurriedly into the boat. "I don't want to run into Fraser, and I justwant to give old George the tip to keep quiet for a day or two. "

The seaman obeyed readily, and exchanged a triumphant glance with Mr. Green as they shot by the steamer's stern. His invention was somewhattried by Flower's questions on the way to the wharf, but he answeredthem satisfactorily, and left him standing on the jetty imparting toGeorge valuable thoughts on the maxim that speech is silver and silencegolden. 

Joe tried a few of the principal points with Tommy upon his return tothe steamer, the necessity for using compliments instead of threats to aship's boy being very galling to his proud nature. 

"You be a good boy like you always 'ave been, Tommy, " he said, witha kindly smile, "and don't breathe a word about wot's 'appened thisevening, and 'ere's a tanner for you to spend--a whole tanner. "

Tommy bit it carefully, and, placing it in his pocket, whistledthoughtfully. 

"Fill your pipe out o' that, young 'un, " said Mr. Green, proffering hispouch with a flourish. 

The boy complied, and putting a few reserve charges in his pocket, looked up at him shrewdly. 

"Is it very partikler?" he enquired, softly. 

"_Partikler!_" repeated Joe. "I should think it is. He can't think 'owpartikler it is, can 'e, Will-yum?"

Mr. Green shook his head. 

"It's worth more than a tanner then, " said Tommy, briskly. 

"Look 'ere, " said Joe, suppressing his natural instincts by a strongeffort. "You keep quiet for three days, and I'll be a friend to you forlife. And so will Will-yum, won't you, old man?"

Mr. Green, with a smile of rare condescension, said that he would. 

"Look 'ere, " said the bargainer, "I'll tell you what I'll do for you:you gimme another tanner each instead, and that's letting you off cheap, 'cos your friendship 'ud be worth pounds and pounds to anybody whatwanted it. "

He gazed firmly at his speechless, would-be friends and waited patientlyuntil such time as their emotion would permit of a reply. Joe was thefirst to speak, and Tommy listened unmoved to a description of himselfwhich would have made a jelly-fish blush. 

"Tanner each, " he said, simply; "I don't want friends who can talk likethat to save sixpence. "

Mr. Green, with a sarcasm which neither Tommy nor Joe understood, gavehim the amount in coppers. His friend followed suit, and the boy, havingparted with his reputation at a fair price, went below, whistling. 

Fraser came on board soon afterwards, and Mr. Green, with his celebrateddrunken scene fresh in his mind, waited nervously for developments. Noneensuing, he confided to Joe his firm conviction that Miss Tyrell wasa young lady worth dying for, and gloomily wondered whether Fraser wasgood enough for her. After which, both men, somewhat elated, fell tocomparing head-pieces. 

Joe was in a state of nervous tension while steam was getting up, and, glued to the side of the steamer, strained his eyes, gazing at thedimly-lit stairs. As they steamed rapidly down the river his spiritsrose, and he said vaguely that something inside him seemed to tell himthat his trouble would not be in vain. 

"There's two days yet, " said Mr. Green. "I wish they was well over. "

Captain Flower, who had secured a bed at the Three Sisters' Hotel inAldgate, was for widely different reasons wishing the same thing. Hisidea was to waylay Fraser immediately after the marriage and obtainPoppy's address, his natural vanity leading him to believe that MissTipping would at once insist upon a change of bridegroom, if she heardof his safety before the ceremony was performed. In these circumstances, he had to control his impatience as best he could, and with a view topreventing his safety becoming known too soon, postponed writing to hisuncle until the day before the wedding. 

CHAPTER XXIV. 

He posted his letter in the morning, and after a midday meal took trainto Seabridge, and here the reception of which he had dreamed for manyweary months, awaited him. The news of his escape had spread round thetown like wildfire, and he had hardly stepped out of the train beforethe station-master was warmly shaking hands with him. The portersfollowed suit, the only man who displayed any hesitation being theporter from the lamp-room, who patted him on the back several timesbefore venturing. The centre of a little, enthusiastic knot offellow-townsmen, he could hardly get clear to receive the hearty grip ofCaptain Barber, or the chaste salute with which Mrs. Barber inauguratedher auntship; but he got free at last, and, taking an arm of each, setoff blithely down the road, escorted by neighbours. 

As far as the cottage their journey was a veritable triumphal progress, and it was some time before the adventuresome mariner was permitted togo inside; but he got free at last, and Mrs. Barber, with a hazy idea ofthe best way to treat a shipwrecked fellow-creature, however remote theaccident, placed before him a joint of cold beef and a quantity of hotcoffee. It was not until he had made a good meal and lit his pipe thatUncle Barber, first quaffing a couple of glasses of ale to nerve himselffor harrowing details, requested him to begin at the beginning and goright on. 

His nephew complied, the tale which he had told Poppy serving him as faras Riga; after which a slight collision off the Nore at night betweenthe brig which was bringing him home and the _Golden Cloud_ enabled himto climb into the bows of that ill-fated vessel before she swung clearagain. There was a slight difficulty here, Captain Barber's views ofBritish seamen making no allowance for such a hasty exchange of ships, but as it appeared that Flower was at the time still suffering fromthe effects of the fever which had seized him at Riga, he waived theobjection, and listened in silence to the end of the story. 

"Fancy what he must have suffered, " said Mrs-Barber, shivering; "andthen to turn up safe and sound a twelvemonth afterwards. He oughtto-make a book of it. "

"It's all in a sailorman's dooty, " said Captain Barber, shaking hishead. "It's wot 'e expects. "

His wife rose, and talking the while proceeded to clear the table. Theold man closed the door after her, and with a glance at his nephew gavea jerk of the head towards the kitchen. 

"Wonderful woman, your aunt, " he said, impressively; "but I was one toomany for 'er. "

Flower stared. 

"How?" he enquired, briefly. 

"Married 'er, " said the old man, chuckling. "You wouldn't believe wot alot there was arter her. I got 'er afore she knew where she was a'most. If I was to tell you all that there was arter'er, you'd hardly believeme. "

"I daresay, " said the other. 

"There's good news and bad news, " continued Captain Barber, shaking hishead and coughing a bit with his pipe. "I've got a bit o' bad for you. "

Flower waited. 

"'Lizabeth's married, " said the old man, slowly; "married that stupidyoung Gibson. She'll be sorry enough now, I know. "

His nephew looked down. "I've heard about it, " he said, with an attemptat gloom; "old George told me. "

The old man, respecting his grief, smoked on for some time in silence, then he got up and patted him on the shoulder. 

"I'm on the look-out for you, " he said, kindly; "there's a niece o' youraunt's. I ain't seen her yet; but your aunt praises of her, so she's allright. I'll tell your aunt to ask 'er over. Your aunt ses--"

"How many aunts have I got?" demanded Flower, with sudden irritation. 

The old man raised his eyebrows and stared at him in offended amazement. 

"You're not yourself, Fred, " he said, slowly; "your misfortunes 'aveshook you up. You've got one aunt and one uncle what brought you up anddid the best for you ever since you was so 'igh. "

"So you did, " said Flower, heartily. "I didn't mean to speak like that, but I'm tired and worried. "

"I see you was, " said his uncle, amiably, "but your aunt's a wonderfulwoman. She's got a business 'ead, and we're doing well. I'm buyinganother schooner, and you can 'ave her or have the Foam back, which youlike. "

Flower thanked him warmly, and, Mrs. Barber returning, he noticed withsome surprise the evident happiness of the couple for whose marriage hewas primarily responsible. He had to go over his adventures againand again, Captain Barber causing much inconvenience and delay atsupper-time by using the beer-jug to represent the _Golden Cloud_ anda dish of hot sausages the unknown craft which sank her. Flower wasuncertain which to admire most: the tactful way in which Mrs. Barberrescued the sausages or the readiness with which his uncle pushed aplate over a fresh stain on the tablecloth. 

Supper finished, he sat silently thinking of Poppy, not quite free fromthe fear that she might have followed him to New Zealand by anotherboat. The idea made him nervous, and the suspense became unendurable. He took up his cap and strolled out into the stillness of the evening. Sea-bridge seemed strange to him after his long absence, and, underpresent conditions, melancholy. There was hardly a soul to be seen, buta murmur of voices came through the open windows of the Thorn, and aclumsy cart jolted and creaked its way up the darkening road. 

He stood for some time looking down on the quay, and the shadowy shapesof one or two small craft lying in the river. The _Foam_ was in her oldberth, and a patch of light aft showed that the cabin was occupied. Hewalked down to her, and stepping noiselessly aboard, peered throughthe open skylight at Ben, as he sat putting a fresh patch in a pair oftrousers. It struck him that the old man might know something of theevents which had led up to Fraser's surprising marriage, and, hiscuriosity being somewhat keen on the point, he descended to gleanparticulars. 

Ben's favourite subject was the misdeeds of the crew, and the stepswhich a kind but firm mate had to take to control them, and he left itunwillingly to discuss Fraser's marriage, of which faint rumourshad reached his ears. It was evident that he knew nothing of theparticulars, and Flower with some carefulness proceeded to put leadingquestions. 

"Did you ever see anything more of those women who used to come down tothe ship after a man named Robinson?" he enquired, carelessly. 

"They come down one night soon arter you fell overboard, " replied theold man. "Very polite they was, and they asked me to go and see 'em anytime I liked. I ain't much of a one for seeing people, but I did go onenight 'bout two or three months ago, end o' March, I think it was, to apub wot they 'ave at Chelsea, to see whether they 'ad heard anything of'im. "

"Ah!" interjected the listener. 

"They was very short about it, " continued Ben, sourly; "the old partygot that excited she could 'ardly keep still, but the young lady shesaid good riddance to bad rubbish, she ses. She hoped as 'ow he'd bepunished. "

Flower started, and then smiled softly to himself. 

"Perhaps she's found somebody else, " he said. 

Ben grunted. 

"I shouldn't wonder, she seemed very much took up with a young fellershe called Arthur, " he said, slowly; "but that was the last I see of'em; they never even offered me a drink, and though they'd ask me to godown any time I liked, they was barely civil. The young lady didn't seemto me to want Arthur to 'ear about it. "

He stitched away resentfully, and his listener, after a fond look roundhis old quarters, bade him good-night and went ashore again. For alittle while he walked up and down the road, pausing once to glance atthe bright drawn blind in the Gibsons' window, and then returned home. Captain Barber and his wife were at cribbage, and intent upon the game. 

With the morning sun his spirits rose, and after a hurried breakfast heset off for the station and booked to Bittlesea. The little platform wasbright with roses, and the air full of the sweetness of an early morningin June. He watched the long line stretching away until it was lost in abend of the road, and thought out ways and means of obtaining a privateinterview with the happy bridegroom; a subject which occupied him longafter the train had started, as he was benevolently anxious not to marhis friend's happiness by a display of useless grief and temper on thepart of the bride. 

The wedding party left the house shortly before his arrival at thestation, after a morning of excitement and suspense which hadtried Messrs. Smith and Green to the utmost, both being debarred byself-imposed etiquette from those alluring liquids by which in othercircumstances they would have soothed their nerves. They strolledrestlessly about with Tommy, for whom they had suddenly conceivedan ardent affection, and who, to do him justice, was taking fullestadvantage of the fact. 

They felt a little safer when a brougham dashed up to the house andcarried off Fraser and his supporter, and safer still when his fatherappeared with Poppy Tyrell on his arm, blushing sweetly and throwing aglance in their direction, which was like to have led to a quarrel untilTommy created a diversion by stating that it was intended for him. 

By the time Flower arrived the road was clear, and the house had lapsedinto its accustomed quiet. 

An old seafaring man, whose interest in weddings had ceased three daysafter his own, indicated the house with the stem of his pipe. It wasan old house with a broad step and a wide-open door, and on the stepa small servant, in a huge cap with her hands clasped together, stoodgazing excitedly up the road. 

"Cap'n Fraser live here?" enquired Flower, after a cautious glance atthe windows. 

"Yes, sir, " said the small servant; "he's getting married at this veryinstant. "

"You'll be married one of these days if you're a good girl, " saidFlower, who was in excellent humour. 

The small girl forgot her cap and gave her head a toss. Then sheregarded him thoughtfully, and after adjusting the cap, smoothed downher apron and said, "she was in no hurry; she never took any notice ofthem. "

Flower looked round and pondered. He was anxious, if possible, to seeFraser and catch the first train back. 

"Cap'n Fraser was in good spirits, I suppose?" he said, cautiously. 

"Very good spirits, " admitted the small servant, "but nervous. "

"And Miss Tipping?" suggested Flower. 

"Miss who?" enquired the small girl, with a superior smile. "Miss Tyrellyou mean, don't you?"

Flower stared at her in astonishment. "No, Miss Tipping, " he said, sharply, "the bride. Is Miss Tyrell here too?"

The small girl was astonished in her turn. "Miss Tyrell is the bride, "she said, dwelling fondly on the last word. "Who's Miss Tipping?"

"What's the bride's Christian name?" demanded Flower, catching herfiercely by the hand'. 

He was certain of the reply before the now thoroughly frightened smallgirl could find breath enough to utter it, and at the word "Poppy, " heturned without a word and ran up the road. Then he stopped, and comingback hastily, called out to her for the whereabouts of the church. 

"Straight up there and second turning on the left, " cried the smallgirl, her fear giving place to curiosity, "What's the matter?"

But Flower was running doggedly up the road, thinking in a confusedfashion as he ran. At first he thought that Joe had blundered; then, as he remembered his manner and his apparent haste to get rid of him, amazement and anger jostled each other in his mind. Out of breath, hispace slackened to a walk, and then broke into a run again as he turnedthe corner, and the church came into view. 

There was a small cluster of people in the porch, which was at oncereduced by two, and a couple of carriages drawn up against the curb. Hearrived breathless and peered in. A few spectators were in the seats, but the chancel was empty. 

"They're gone into the vestry, " whispered an aged but frivolous woman, who was grimly waiting with a huge bag of rice. 

Flower turned white. No efforts of his could avail now, and he smiledbitterly as he thought of his hardships of the past year. There was alump in his throat, and a sense of unreality about the proceedings whichwas almost dream-like. He looked up the sunny road with its sleepy, old-time houses, and then at the group standing in the porch, wonderingdimly that a deformed girl on crutches should be smiling as gaily asthough the wedding were her own, and that yellow, wrinkled old womenshould wilfully come to remind themselves of their long-dead youth. Hiswhole world seemed suddenly desolate and unreal, and it was only bornein upon him slowly that there was no need now for his journey to Londonin search of Poppy, and that henceforth her movements could possess nointerest for him. He ranged himself quietly with the bystanders and, notwithout a certain dignity, waited. 

It seemed a long time. The horses champed and rattled their harness. Thebystanders got restless. Then there was a movement. 

He looked in the church again and saw them coming down the aisle:Fraser, smiling and erect, with Poppy's little hand upon his arm. Shelooked down at first, smiling shyly, but as they drew near the door gaveher husband a glance such as Flower had never seen before. He caught hisbreath then, and stood up erect as the bridegroom himself, and as theyreached the door they both saw him at the same instant. Poppy, with astartled cry of joy and surprise, half drew her arm from her husband's;Fraser gazed at him as on one risen from the dead. 

For a space they regarded each other without a word, then Fraser, withhis wife on his arm, took a step towards him. Flower still regardingthem steadily, drew back a little, and moved by a sudden impulse, andthat new sense of dignity, snatched a handful of rice from the oldwoman's bag and threw it over them. 

Then he turned quickly, and with rapid strides made his way back to thestation.