t down your pipe? I cleaned that shelf this very morning! How
little I thought when I promised to be yours that you ever would knock
out your ashes like that! But do bear in mind, dear, whatever you do, if
anything happened to you, what ever would become of all of us? All your
sweet children and your faithful wife--I declare you have made two great
rings with your tumbler upon the new cover of the table."

"Matilda, that has been done ever so long. But I am almost certain this
tumbler leaks."

"So you always say; just as if I would allow it. You never will think of
simply wiping the rim every time you use it; when I put you a saucer for
your glass, you forget it; there never was such a man, I do believe. I
shall have to stop the rum and water altogether."

"No, no, no. I'll do anything you like. I'll have a tumbler made with
a saucer to it--I'll buy a piece of oil-cloth the size of a
foretop-sail--I'll--"

"Charles, no nonsense, if you please: as if I were ever unreasonable!
But your quickness of temper is such that I dread what you may say to
that Cadman. Remember what opportunities he has, dear. He might shoot
you in the dark any night, my darling, and put it upon the smugglers. I
entreat you not to irritate the man, and make him your enemy. He is so
spiteful; and I should be in terror the whole night long."

"Matilda, in the house you may command me as you please--even in my
own cuddy here. But as regards my duty, you know well that I permit
no interference. And I should have expected you to have more sense. A
pretty officer I should be if I were afraid of my own men! When a man
is to blame, I tell him so, in good round language, and shall do so now.
This man is greatly to blame, and I doubt whether to consider him a fool
or a rogue. If it were not that he has seven children, as we have, I
would discharge him this very night."

"Charles, I am very sorry for his seven children, but our place is to
think of our own seven first. I beg you, I implore you, to discharge the
man; for he has not the courage to harm you, I believe, except with the
cowardly advantage he has got. Now promise me either to say nothing to
him, or to discharge him, and be done with him."

"Matilda, of such things you know nothing; and I can not allow you to
say any more."

"Very well, very well. I know my duty. I shall sit up and pray every
dark night you are out, and the whole place will go to the dogs, of
course. Of the smugglers I am no