y sleeves clasped Walter tight. During this pause, there was
an universal silence, and the Captain polished his nose with great
diligence. But when the pea-coat, cap, and comforter lifted themselves
up again, Florence gently moved towards them; and she and Walter taking
them off, disclosed the old Instrument-maker, a little thinner and more
careworn than of old, in his old Welsh wig and his old coffee-coloured
coat and basket buttons, with his old infallible chronometer ticking
away in his pocket.

'Chock full o' science,' said the radiant Captain, 'as ever he was! Sol
Gills, Sol Gills, what have you been up to, for this many a long day, my
ould boy?'

'I'm half blind, Ned,' said the old man, 'and almost deaf and dumb with
joy.'

'His wery woice,' said the Captain, looking round with an exultation
to which even his face could hardly render justice--'his wery woice as
chock full o' science as ever it was! Sol Gills, lay to, my lad, upon
your own wines and fig-trees like a taut ould patriark as you are, and
overhaul them there adwentures o' yourn, in your own formilior woice.
'Tis the woice,' said the Captain, impressively, and announcing a
quotation with his hook, 'of the sluggard, I heerd him complain, you
have woke me too soon, I must slumber again. Scatter his ene-mies, and
make 'em fall!'

The Captain sat down with the air of a man who had happily expressed the
feeling of everybody present, and immediately rose again to present Mr
Toots, who was much disconcerted by the arrival of anybody, appearing to
prefer a claim to the name of Gills.

'Although,' stammered Mr Toots, 'I had not the pleasure of your
acquaintance, Sir, before you were--you were--'

'Lost to sight, to memory dear,' suggested the Captain, in a low voice.

Exactly so, Captain Gills!' assented Mr Toots. 'Although I had not the
pleasure of your acquaintance, Mr--Mr Sols,' said Toots, hitting on that
name in the inspiration of a bright idea, 'before that happened, I have
the greatest pleasure, I assure you, in--you know, in knowing you. I
hope,' said Mr Toots, 'that you're as well as can be expected.'

With these courteous words, Mr Toots sat down blushing and chuckling.

The old Instrument-maker, seated in a corner between Walter and
Florence, and nodding at Polly, who was looking on, all smiles and
delight, answered the Captain thus:

'Ned Cuttle, my dear boy, although I have heard something of the changes
of events here, from my pleasant f