it unbuttons and comes round in front of the face and buttons,
so--to keep all snug when you lay down to sleep."

"Wonderful!" exclaimed the sisters as the captain stood before them like
a great pillar of white fur, with nothing of him visible save the eyes
and feet.

"But that's not all," continued the ancient mariner, turning his back to
the sisters. "You see that great flap hooked up behind?"

"Yes," answered Jessie and Kate in the same breath.

"Well, then, notice what I do."

He sat down on the floor, and unhooking the flap, drew it round in
front, where he re-hooked it to another row of eyes in such a manner
that it completely covered his feet and lower limbs.

"There, you see, I'm in a regular fur-bag now, all ready for a night in
the snow."

By way of illustration he extended himself on the floor at full-length,
and, by reason of that length being so great, and the room so narrow,
his feet went into the window-recess, while his head lay near the door.

All ignorant of this illustration of arctic life going on, Liffie Lee,
intent on dinner purposes, opened the door and drove it violently
against the captain's head.

"Avast there!" he shouted, rising promptly. "Come in, lass. Come in--
no damage done."

"Oh! sir," exclaimed the horrified Liffie, "I ax your parding."

"Don't put yourself about my girl. I'm used to collisions, and it's not
in the power o' your small carcass to do me damage."

Disrobing himself as he spoke, the lodger retired to his cabin to lay
aside his curious garment, and Liffie, assisted by Kate, took advantage
of his absence to spread their little board.

"I never saw such a man," said Kate in a low voice as she bustled about.

"Saw!" exclaimed Jessie under her breath, "I never even conceived of
such a man. He is so violent in his actions that I constantly feel as
if I should be run over and killed. It feels like living in the same
house with a runaway mail coach. How fortunate that his spirit is so
gentle and kind!"

A tremendous crash at that moment caused Jessie to stop with a gasp.

"Hallo! fetch a swab--a dish-clout or somethin', Liffie," came
thundering from the captain's room. "Don't be alarmed, ladies, it's
only the wash-hand basin. Knocked it over in hangin' up the coat.
Nothin' smashed. It's a tin basin, you know. Look alive, lass, else
the water'll git down below, for the caulkin' of these planks ain't much
to boast of, an' you'll have the green-grocer