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

t, his attitude when she tried to, being one of wilful and deliberate defiance. She met this disobedience adeptly by taking a pupil home with her, and when ev

ation was severely technical, and the expression o

g about as though they had lost something. They all got to wear a bereaved appearance after a time, which, in

per's inquiries revealed nothing. Ironbridge was a small place, with absolutely nothing to conceal; but it was a fine day, and Henry, who disliked

ders at the dusty cloud which hung over the Seamew as he we

siderable trade; now its streets were sleepy and its wharves deserted. Besides the Seamew the only other craft in th

gh Street with his hands in his pockets. A short walk brought him to the white hurdles of the desolate mark

he paused at a high brick wall and looked at th

ad not entirely eradicated a youthful partiality for apples. He was hidden from the house by the trees, and a

six or seven pounds of apples would allow him, made his way to a large summer-house and peeped in. It was empty, except for a tabl

de, which, coming nearer and nearer, were evidently aimed at the summer-house. With a

said a woman's voice. "You will not come

ock. The footsteps retreated again, and the embarrassed brave realized that he was in a cruel

ice. "Bother your rivers! bother

e stress of mental anguish caused by his position, Henry made a mi

the small gir

aid Henry, popping up hu

small girl in a

ly, coughing confusedly, as he saw the s

got in your poc

ry softly. "I boug

hand, and accepting a coup

seriously as she bit into one. "You

?" inquired Henry wit

ess," said t

school?"

her mouth full o

ired Henry with an a

girl shook

here," she said gleefully. "You'll

eat fear, Henry leaned ba

l," he said quietly, as he pul

eyes glistened

plaintively, "then I shouldn't

orrected He

l girl amicably. "You may have

aid Henry hastily; "I'v

d him haughtily, but finding that he w

ur name?"

remembered sundry cautions about the letter

the small girl, sitting up straighter to

esentment. "I don't like Gertrude, or Ursula,

drummed with the tips of her fingers on the tabl

a connoisseur, as he looked at the small

said Miss Harcourt carelessly. "D

en blown out to sea once, and he

Florence Harcourt, getting nearer to him

pirates he would have said "No," though that would have been hard with her litt

or seven," said Henry Atkin

," said Miss Harcourt,

even admirals had never thought of, and certainly not the pirates, who were invariably discomfited by the ingenious means by which he enabled virtue to triumph over si

ished. There was an inflection, just a slight inflection, of voi

u see in the heat"-he got it right that time-"

court, repenting of her unreasonable

icer?" inquired

Henry, wishing s

ry you when I grow up," said Miss Harcourt, smili

y wistfully, "I didn't mean it when I s

," said Miss Harcourt severely, but no

he marriage, brightened up again. The "Rivers of Europe" had fallen beneath the table, and were entirely for

er book and skipping to the farthest seat poss

own open, and Miss Dimchurch peeping in, drew back with a cry of surprise. Behind her some t

aid the principal

rt looking up, with her finger

ere with this person?"

ourt, working up a whimper. "You loc

ll after me?" dema

re; he was under the tab

is hand, looked uneasily up to see whether he could push past her. Miss Harcourt, holding her brea

said Miss Dimchurch tragically.

s, a tall pretty girl

boy, Miss O'Brien,

speak calmly; "I'll go. Stand away he

," commanded

rs, entered, and squaring her shoulders, stood over the intruder

turning pale; "you drop it.

him from the ground. Her grip was like steel, and a babel of admiring young voices broke upon his horrified ears as his captor mar

ct that both legs were jammed together-as he caught sight of

g him as a dumb-bell, threw in a gratuitous gymn

Miss Dimchurch, who was heading the procession behind,

ame, was thrust into the road in full view of t

accents as he staggered back, aghast at the

d Miss Dimchurch sternly. "If I cat

rt anybody," said the cook, unable to re

nding in the road. The cook turned and led the way down

latter, proffering one; "I sa

ks," said

e you," said

bite it either,"

until at the market-place Henry pau

a pint, old chap,"

gain. "It's no use, Enery, you

an?" bluster

said the o

on't," s

, no, not for six pints," said the cook cheerf

eneralled youth "Nobody'd think so

taking the part of Miss O'Brien for himself, gave that of Henry to a cork fender, which, when it became obstreperous-as it frequently did on the slightest provocation-he slapped vigorously, giving sundry falsetto howls, which he fondly imagined were in