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

e was to learn about Piggott's Bay. The second outrage was likely to have seriously injured his constitution, b

ng, "that I've been rather selfish over that

ase yourself

rning to the cook who had joined them. "I'm goin

trayed grati

e just up the coast here," continued Dick. "If you two chaps like to walk out this

stood thunderstruc

urged the cook. "We won't take no adva

punish myself for being greedy. If you two 'll ju

then," said the cook

e, cook," observed Sam. "We'd be

u by the 'and, Dick,"

the cook relinquished it. "You're

said the comp

er tea, if you'll get us

said Dic

urprise. "It's no use going to Piggott's Bay without a Union Jac

en went so far as to pretend that Dick had gone down for the flag in question, and gingerly putting his head down the scuttle, said that a pair of bathing

ng for grown men to be exposed to the gibes of Henry, and for another, looking at it in the cold clear light of reason, they could

le. "You can't expect to find him. Now take my advice, you're doing

said the ot

ing 'em about just because they've got gray whiskers and are getting into y

e," retorted the other, who was carrying on

ook nice. What for? Another fellow's girl. Turn it and

pper, covering his confusion by a vigor

f in the direction of Gravesend. The one gleam of light in his present condition was the regular habits of schools

hing. He walked up and down the road wondering. Half-past four, five. He waited until six o'clock-an object of much interest to sundry lad

she said as sh

ack," s

nis. "None, I'm sorry to say," said the sk

the

said the skipper

ed and had a cup of tea with Miss Grattan

w?" inq

having by this time reached the

aid, glancing up the road towards

pause, devoted to wondering whether he might venture to

to call in and wait to see mother she

y to let me in?"

pect," said Annis, looking

said the perplexed Wilson,

what?"

. "I-Are you going

far," said

you prefer

Annis Gothing; "but yo

together, and for some t

y just now?" said Annis, when the s

" said

you should have thought-" She turned and regarded him with

he said desperately, "that you

said Annis coldly. "I th

said Wilson humbly; "

they left the road and entered a footpath.

to find your father,"

you could," said Annis, look

er is trying all he

n passion-"I want him badly, but I would

ied when he is found,"

nds him," said An

her by the arm, and she did not release it)-"do you mean to say that

er fretted so, and I thought nothing mattered muc

faltered Wilson, as with a ruthless disre

ing at him pleasantly, "I sha'n'

that," said Wilson.

enly and pointing, "isn't there a

d!" said

vorite walk,

"Especially when Mr. Glover is

He has been very good to my mother, and he has gone to

n. Annis turned and regarded him fixedly. "Tha

said Wilson, closely watching

id Annis, without con

what he dared not say. "I should like you to treat

nnis promptly. In spite of herself h

e first time I saw you!" said

had no weapon to meet it. The tables were turned, and re

s in because you were there," continued Wilson. "I've wond

s any pleasure to you to know it, they did," she said viciously. "I taught o

to keep the whole school in before I get over

er spoke until they reached the lane again, and then Wilson stopped and met her gaze ful

both alike?" said W

y and smiled. A light broke in upon him, an

wing back sharply; "i

What wouldn't?" he asked, with an awkward attempt at innocence. A tiny but

pardon," he

Miss Gething innoc

ed a direct one again. "For trying to kiss you and then pretendin

Gething breathlessly, "I-I

," said Wil

lip and turned her head away miserably realizing her inabilit

r said things of this sort to a girl

aid Wils

ce," said Miss G

t I do want," sa

her again, but she c

ed to another man," she said, regardin

quired Wilson, referring, of

ething

right and proper,

" she said steadily. "I won't see you again until my father is f

sed the brim of her hat. Then she broke from him and ran lightly up the lane, pausing at the end to stop and wave her hand ere she disappeared. The skipper waved his in retu