abin. Bill, this is Miss Cooper, a
lady friend o' mine, and her brother."

The mate, acknowledging the introduction, led the way to the cabin,
where they remained so long that by the time they came on deck again the
schooner was off Limehouse, slipping along well under a light wind.

"How do you like the state-room?" inquired the skipper, who was at the
wheel.

"Pretty fair," replied Miss Cooper. "It's a big name for it though,
ain't it? Oh, what a large ship!"

She ran to the side to gaze at a big liner, and as far as Gravesend
besieged the skipper and mate with questions concerning the various
craft. At the mate's suggestion they had tea on deck, at which meal
William Henry Cooper became a source of much discomfort to his host
by his remarkable discoveries anent the fauna of lettuce. Despite
his efforts, however, and the cloud under which Evans seemed to be
labouring, the meal was voted a big success; and after it was over they
sat laughing and chatting until the air got chilly, and the banks of the
river were lost in the gathering darkness. At ten o'clock they retired
for the night, leaving Evans and the mate on deck.

"Nice gal, that," said the mate, looking at the skipper, who was leaning
moodily on the wheel.

"Ay, ay," replied he. "Bill," he continued, turning suddenly towards the
mate. "I'm in a deuce of a mess. You've got a good square head on your
shoulders. Now, what on earth am I to do? Of course you can see how the
land lays?"

"Of course," said the mate, who was not going to lose his reputation by
any display of ignorance. "Anyone could see it," he added.

"The question is what's to be done?" said the skipper.

"That's the question," said the mate guardedly.

"I feel that worried," said Evans, "that I've actually thought of
getting into collision, or running the ship ashore. Fancy them two women
meeting at Llandalock."

Such a sudden light broke in upon the square head of the mate, that he
nearly whistled with the brightness of it.

"But you ain't engaged to this one?" he cried.

"We're to be married in August," said the skipper desperately. "That's
my ring on her finger."

"But you're going to marry Mary Jones in September," expostulated the
mate. "You can't marry both of 'em."

"That's what I say," replied Evans; "that's what I keep telling myself,
but it don't seem to bring much comfort. I'm too soft-'earted where
wimmen is concerned, Bill, an' that's the truth of it. D'reckly I get