f; "but there was four of them saved, so
why not five? Mightn't 'e have floated away on a spar or something and
been picked up? Can't you dream it three nights running, and tell 'er
that you feel certain sure he's alive?"

"If I dreamt it fifty times it wouldn't make any difference," ses George
Hatchard. "Here! wot are you up to? 'Ave you gone mad, or wot? You poke
me in the ribs like that agin if you dare."

"Her fust 'usband's alive," ses Alf, smiling at un.

"_Wot?_" ses his uncle.

"He floated away on a bit o' wreckage," ses Alf, nodding at 'im, "just
like they do in books, and was picked up more dead than alive and took
to Melbourne. He's now living up-country working on a sheep station."

"Who's dreaming now?" ses his uncle.

"It's a fact," ses Alf. "I know a chap wot's met 'im and talked to 'im.
She can't marry you while he's alive, can she?"

"Certainly _not_," ses George Hatchard, trembling all over; "but are you
sure you 'aven't made a mistake?"

"Certain sure," ses Alf.

"It's too good to be true," ses George Hatchard.

"O' course it is," ses Alf, "but she won't know that. Look 'ere; you
write down all the things that she 'as told you about herself and give
it to me, and I'll soon find the chap I spoke of wot's met 'im. He'd
meet a dozen men if it was made worth his while."

George Hatchard couldn't understand 'im at fust, and when he did he
wouldn't 'ave a hand in it because it wasn't the right thing to do, and
because he felt sure that Mrs. Pearce would find it out. But at last
'e wrote out all about her for Alf; her maiden name, and where she was
born, and everything; and then he told Alf that, if 'e dared to play
such a trick on an unsuspecting, loving woman, he'd never forgive 'im.

"I shall want a couple o' quid," ses Alf.

"Certainly not," ses his uncle. "I won't 'ave nothing to do with it, I
tell you."

"Only to buy chocolates with," ses Alf.

"Oh, all right," ses George Hatchard; and he went upstairs to 'is
bedroom and came down with three pounds and gave 'im. "If that ain't
enough," he ses, "let me know, and you can 'ave more."

Alf winked at 'im, but the old man drew hisself up and stared at 'im,
and then 'e turned and walked away with his 'ead in the air.

He 'ardly got a chance of speaking to Alf next day, Mrs. Pearce being
'ere, there, and everywhere, as the saying is, and finding so many
little odd jobs for Alf to do that there was no time for talking. But
the day arter he