ell, you're wrong," said the mate. "A lot you know about girls. It
wasn't your old clothes, and it wasn't all your bad behaviour to
her since she's been aboard. You may as well know first as last. She
wouldn't have nothing to do with me at first, so I told her all about
Mary Jones."

"You told her THAT?" cried the skipper fiercely.

"I did," replied the other. "She was pretty wild at first; but then the
comic side of it struck her--you wearing them old clothes, and going
about as you did. She used to watch you until she couldn't stand it any
longer, and then go down in the cabin and laugh. Wonderful spirits that
girl's got. Hush! Here she is!"

As he spoke the girl came on deck, and, seeing the two men talking
together, remained at a short distance from them.

"It's all right, Jane," said the mate; "I've told him."

"Oh!" said Miss Cooper, with a little gasp.

"I can't bear deceit," said the mate; "and now it's off his mind, he's
so happy he can't bear himself."

The latter part of this assertion seemed to be more warranted by facts
than the former, but Evans made a choking noise, which he intended as a
sign of unbearable joy, and, relinquishing the wheel to the mate, walked
forward. The clear sky was thick with stars, and a mind at ease might
have found enjoyment in the quiet beauty of the night, but the skipper
was too interested in the behaviour of the young couple at the wheel to
give it a thought. Immersed in each other, they forgot him entirely,
and exchanged little playful slaps and pushes, which incensed him
beyond description. Several times he was on the point of exercising
his position as commander and ordering the mate below, but in the
circumstances interference was impossible, and, with a low-voiced
good-night, he went below. Here his gaze fell on William Henry, who was
slumbering peacefully, and, with a hazy idea of the eternal fitness
of things, he raised the youth in his arms, and, despite his sleepy
protests, deposited him in the mate's bunk. Then, with head and heart
both aching, he retired for the night.

There was a little embarrassment next day, but it soon passed off, and
the three adult inmates of the cabin got on quite easy terms with each
other. The most worried person aft was the boy, who had not been taken
into their confidence, and whose face, when his sister sat with the
mate's arm around her waist, presented to the skipper a perfect study in
emotions.

"I feel quite curious to se