"Come, Annie; do be serious for a moment. There isn't much time left
now, and I've come to you in order that I may get a plain answer."

"If you want a plain answer, you'd better ask a plain question. I
don't know what you mean."

"Will you have me? That's a plain question, or the deuce is in it."

"And what should I do with you?"

"Why, be Mrs. Biffin, of course."

"Ha! ha! ha! And it has come to that, has it? What was it you said to
Dr. O'Shaughnessey when we were off Point de Galle?"

"Well, what did I say?"

"I know what you said well enough. And so do you, too. If I served
you right, I should never speak to you again."

"A man doesn't like to be humbugged, you know, before a whole shipful
of people," said the major, defending himself.

"And a woman likes it just as little, Major Biffin; please to
remember that."

"Well; I'm sure you've been down upon me long enough."

"Not a bit longer than you deserved. You told O'Shaughnessey, that it
was all very well to amuse yourself, going home. I hope you like your
amusement now. I have liked mine very well, I can assure you."

"I don't think so bad of you as to believe you care for that fellow."

"There are worse fellows than he is, Major Biffin. But there, I have
had my revenge; and now if you have anything to say, I'll give you an
answer."

"I've only to say, Annie, that I love you better than any woman in
the world."

"I may believe as much of that as I like."

"You may believe it all. Come, there's my hand."

"Well, I suppose I must forgive you. There's mine. Will that please
you?"

Major Biffin was the happiest man in the world, and Mrs. Cox went to
her berth that night not altogether dissatisfied. Before she did so,
she had the major's offer in writing in her pocket; and had shown it
to Mrs. Price, with whom she was now altogether reconciled.

"I only wish, Minnie, that there was no Mrs. M'Gramm," said she.

"He wouldn't be the man for me at all, my dear; so don't let that
fret you."

"There's as good fish in the sea as ever were caught yet; eh,
Minnie?"

"Of course there are. Though of course you think there never was such
a fish as Biffin."

"He'll do well enough for me, Minnie; and when you catch a bigger,
and a better, I won't begrudge him you."

That night Mrs. Cox took her evening modicum of creature-comforts
sitting next to her lover, the major; and our two friends were left
alone by themselves. The news had soon spread about