the bare deck of the _Foam_.

"George!" cried Mrs. Fillson, who was a fine woman, raising her voice
almost to a scream in the effort to make herself heard above the winch
of a neighbouring steamer.

It was unfortunate perhaps that both officers of the schooner bore the
same highly-respectable Christian name.

"_George!_" cried Mrs. Bunnett, glancing indignantly at the other lady.

"_Ge-orge!_" cried Mrs. Fillson, returning her looks with interest.

"Hussey," said Mrs. Bunnett under her breath, but not very much under.

"George!"

There was no response.

"_George!_" cried both ladies together.

Still no response, and they made a louder effort.

There was yet another George on board, in the fo'c'sle, and, in response
to pushes from curious friends below, he came up, and regarded the fair
duettists open-mouthed.

"What d'yer want?" he said, at length sheepishly.

"Will you tell Captain Bunnett that his wife, Mrs. Bunnett, is here?"
said that lady, a thin, little woman with bright black eyes.

"Yes, mum," said the seaman, and was hurrying off when Mrs. Fillson
called him back.

"Will you tell Mr. Fillson that his wife, Mrs. Fillson, is up here?" she
said politely.

"All right, mum," said the other, and went be-low to communicate the
pleasing tidings. Both husbands came up on deck hastily, and a glance
served to show them how their wives stood.

"How do you do, Cap'n Bunnett," said Mrs. Fillson, with a fascinating
smile.

"Good-morning, marm," said the skipper, trying to avoid his wife's eyes;
"that's my wife, Mrs. Bunnett."

"Good-morning, ma'am," said Mrs. Fillson, adjusting the new bonnet with
the tips of her fingers.

"Good-morning to you," said Mrs. Bunnett in a cold voice, but
patronising. "You have come to bring your husband some of his things, I
suppose?"

"She's coming with us," said the skipper, in a hurry to have it over.
"Wait half a moment, and I'll help you down."

He got up on to the side and helped them both to the deck, and, with a
great attempt at cheery conversation, led the way below, where, in the
midst of an impressive silence, he explained that the ladies would have
to share the state-room between them.

"That's the only way out of it," said the mate, after waiting in vain
for them to say something.

"It's a fairish size when you come to look at it," said the skipper,
putting his head on one side to see whether the bunk looked larger that
way.

"Pack three in there at