tain.

'Mean? Your lodgings, Ned,' returned the old man. 'Mrs What's-her-name!
I shall forget my own name next, but I am behind the present time--I
always was, you recollect--and very much confused. Mrs--'

'Sol Gills!' said the Captain, as if he were putting the most improbable
case in the world, 'it ain't the name of MacStinger as you're a trying
to remember?'

'Of course it is!' exclaimed the Instrument-maker. 'To be sure Ned. Mrs
MacStinger!'

Captain Cuttle, whose eyes were now as wide open as they would be, and
the knobs upon whose face were perfectly luminous, gave a long shrill
whistle of a most melancholy sound, and stood gazing at everybody in a
state of speechlessness.

'Overhaul that there again, Sol Gills, will you be so kind?' he said at
last.

'All these letters,' returned Uncle Sol, beating time with the
forefinger of his right hand upon the palm of his left, with a
steadiness and distinctness that might have done honour, even to the
infallible chronometer in his pocket, 'I posted with my own hand, and
directed with my own hand, to Captain Cuttle, at Mrs MacStinger's,
Number nine Brig Place.'

The Captain took his glazed hat off his hook, looked into it, put it on,
and sat down.

'Why, friends all,' said the Captain, staring round in the last state of
discomfiture, 'I cut and run from there!'

'And no one knew where you were gone, Captain Cuttle?' cried Walter
hastily.

'Bless your heart, Wal'r,' said the Captain, shaking his head, 'she'd
never have allowed o' my coming to take charge o' this here property.
Nothing could be done but cut and run. Lord love you, Wal'r!' said the
Captain, 'you've only seen her in a calm! But see her when her angry
passions rise--and make a note on!'

'I'd give it her!' remarked the Nipper, softly.

'Would you, do you think, my dear?' returned the Captain, with feeble
admiration. 'Well, my dear, it does you credit. But there ain't no wild
animal I wouldn't sooner face myself. I only got my chest away by means
of a friend as nobody's a match for. It was no good sending any letter
there. She wouldn't take in any letter, bless you,' said the Captain,
'under them circumstances! Why, you could hardly make it worth a man's
while to be the postman!'

'Then it's pretty clear, Captain Cuttle, that all of us, and you and
Uncle Sol especially,' said Walter, 'may thank Mrs MacStinger for no
small anxiety.'

The general obligation in this wise to the determined relict