The Skipper's Wooing, and The Brown Man's Servant

ed him from his bunk and tried to arouse him to a sense of his duties. The cook, with his eyes still closed, crawled back again the mom

ding along under a stiff breeze. It was a breeze such as the mate loved, and his face was serene and p

e, you skulking rascal! Wher

y; "you'll 'ardly believe the trouble I've been

e," roared the mate warningly. "Whe

atic gesture began his story. As it proceeded the mate's breath came thick and fast, his color rose

" said the m

worst of it yet, s

'll break your neck," said the mate violently. "You'

uth, sir," said

her, shaking his fist at him. "If it wasn't for le

most abrupt and unfeeling fashion stopped two days' pay. Down in the foc'sle he fared no better, the

osing as a daredevil, and he went about his duties with a chastened mien, mista

havior every time a police-boat passed them coming in for much scornful censure. It was some hours before he would go as

ight, and black clouds still hung low over the river. They were not to load until the next day, and afte

t natural thing in the world that she should be sauntering about Gravesend in the pouring rain. At about four o'clock, being fairly wet through, he saw the fallacy of the idea strongly, and in a disconsolate fashion, after one glass at a convenient tavern

," said the ski

ernoon,"

e skipper, standing resp

said Miss Ge

much myself," s

Miss Gething. "You are goin

o," said the skipper wi

little shopping," s

et off to pay the call. He turned his head several times as he went, but Miss G

the rain from his cap as he knocked gently at the door. It was opened b

g in?" asked

ust at present,"

you don't mind," said the skipper,

nd they entered the small parlor together. The skipper, with a courage which surprise

will be a long time," s

said the skipper, who would hav

t them into shape with his fingers. The other man regarded the

or Mrs. Gething," he suggeste

llow with a waxed black moustache, a light silk tie and a massive scarf-pin. A frock-coat

"Wet day," said the skipper, by way

vent Mrs. Gething from returning, whereupon conversation languished until the sound of h

" said the sk

trance of Miss Gething was sufficient refutation of the

in surprise as she entered the room

er, who really thought that there was

I've seen you before," she said, "and it is good of you to wait

the way. Miss Gething, after going outside to remove her hat and jacket, came in smiling pleasantly, and conver

ing suddenly. "Have you got to c

ismally. "Business, you k

p of tea before y

e way, rose and murmured that he must go. His amazement when Miss Gething twisted her pretty face into a w

captain?" said Miss Get

deas were in a whirl, and he sat silent as the girl def

said brightly. "One pie

gentleman in a

at the skipper with t

miled contemptuously, and raised his eye-brows a little.

r three," said the skipper, trying to explai

-going nature," said Mi

nd, I should think," s

other things,"

Neither man was disposed to be talkative, and tea would have proceeded in sombre silence but for

, and taking his hat and umbrella, shook hands with her. Then he came to the door again,

said th

ng, and with a curt nod followed Mi

," said the skipper, as Miss Gething wat

so," s

sn't in," said the skippe

ull for you, I'm af

d whether Mr. Glover was such an adept

o?" he inquired, ref

said Ann

gazing up the road with what appeared t

," said the skipper, who thought

e rose, and followed h

rella to lend you," s

ght," said the skipper

he put her little ha

in dismay. "The idea of me lett

he skipper, whom circumstances had

his hand do

thing," said

d the skipper, squeezin

hed his co

ht not to sit about in such things. Wait a mom

, and returning with a long, h

ces, began to put it on. She held the other sleeve up for him and watched, with th

ects to Mrs. Gething

orry she wasn't in. Are

three

pond

to-morrow," she

siness," said the skipper. "If it wouldn't

put his hands in Captain Gething's pockets and went off in a brown study. Slowly and distinctly as h

as here; but one would have thought-Lovers' tiff," he said suddenly and bitterly; "and doing

ng the tea with which the zealous Henry was about to

" said the mate. "Wher

lent to me. You know that Captain

id the oth

s raised to five pounds," said the s

'ung for murder or som'think," said Henry. "It's n

age having been conveyed to the foc'sle, a

said Dick emphatically. "Fiv

t 'ave the treat I 'ad,"

o' them things people 'ave in the Cit

?" suggeste

damned!" said

s wot 'as a lot o'

all at sea. "But you couldn't take

s a silly fool," said Sam impatiently. "I mean

far as "automatic mach-" when

at?" said Dick. "Why

said Sam angrily; "but a lot o' pe

syndikit,"

ord," said Sa

the good of i

s found. It 'ud be a cruel thing, Dick, if, just as you'd spotted your man

try it," sai

o' yours, Sam," said th

come in, Dic

ick; "it's five

you know, me an' the cook an

n't think I'm takin'

aid Sam, "the-the--wh

it," sa

he cook, then," said Sam.

began to hold aloof from their fellows, and to confer darkly in remote corners. They expended a shilling on a popular detecti

nd left him to imagine his rival tête-à-tête with Annis. After tea a reaction set in, and, bit by bit the mate, by means of tim

id the mate; "you can go where you like. If you f

him," said the skipper. "I just

and, first getting his beard trimmed at a barber's, walked along to call on Mrs. Gething. She was in, and pleased t

s, after accepting an invitation to a cup o

n," said Mrs. Gething. "She's

with dismal intuition. "I met a friend her

d lady; "a man in a very good pos

urmured the s

the fond mother. "I'm sure it's quite

ried soon?" quer

for a comparative stranger to

the old lady, shaking her head sa

ot finding Captain Gething, but the idea had hardly occurred to him before he dismissed it as unworthy, and manfully resolved to do his best. For an hour he sa