Government service----" began the captain.

He broke off disdainfully until such time as Mr. Tipping should have
conquered a somewhat refractory cough.

"In the secret service," continued Flower, firmly, "has got enemies all
round 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 a
nervous start.

"I'd forgive you anything, Fred," said Miss Tipping, tenderly; "you'll
have to give up this job at once."

Captain Flower shook his head and smiled mournfully, thereby intimating
that his services were of too valuable a nature for any Government to
lightly dispense with.

"May I come round and see you to-morrow?" he enquired, putting his arm
about the lady's waist.

"Come round to-morrow?" repeated Miss Tipping, in surprise; "why, you
don't think I'm going to leave you here surrounded by dangers? You're
coming 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 each
other'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 tender
smile, and, following them downstairs, held a long argument with Mrs.
Chiffers as to the amount due, that lady having ideas upon the subject
which did more credit to her imagination than her arithmetic.

The bill was settled at last, and the little party standing on the steps
waited for the return of Miss Chiffers, who had been dispatched for a
four-wheeler.

"Oh, what about your luggage, Fred?" enquired Miss Tipping, suddenly.

"Haven't got any," said Flower, quickly. "I managed to get away with
what 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 veracious
mariner. "I wasn't touched except for a rap over my foot with the
butt-end of a revolver. I was just over the wall in time."

"Poor fellow," said Miss Tipping, softly, as she shivered and looked up
into his face. "What are you grinning at, Dick?"

"I s'pose a fellow may grin if he likes," s