people was passing things to each other in whispers, and when
a bit o' cheese went the wrong way with Joe Morgan he nearly suffocated
'imself for fear of making a noise.

They 'ad a game o' cards arter supper, counting twenty nuts as a penny,
and everybody got more cheerful. They was all laughing and talking,
and Joe Morgan was pretending to steal Mrs. Pearce's nuts, when George
Hatchard held up his 'and.

"Somebody at the street door, I think," he ses.

Young Alf got up to open it, and they 'eard a man's voice in the passage
asking whether Mrs. Pearce lived there, and the next moment Alf came
into the room, followed by Bill Flurry.

"Here's a gentleman o' the name o' Smith asking arter you," he ses,
looking at Mrs. Pearce.

"Wot d'you want?" ses Mrs. Pearce rather sharp.

"It is 'er," ses Bill, stroking his long white beard and casting 'is
eyes up 'at the ceiling. "You don't remember me, Mrs. Pearce, but I used
to see you years ago, when you and poor Charlie Pearce was living down
Poplar way."

"Well, wot about it?" ses Mrs. Pearce.

"I'm coming to it," ses Bill Flurry. "I've been two months trying to
find you, so there's no need to be in a hurry for a minute or two.
Besides, what I've got to say ought to be broke gently, in case you
faint away with joy."

"Rubbish!" ses Mrs. Pearce. "I ain't the fainting sort."

"I 'ope it's nothing unpleasant," ses George Hat-chard, pouring 'im out
a glass of whisky.

"Quite the opposite," ses Bill. "It's the best news she's 'eard for
fifteen years."

"Are you going to tell me wot you want, or ain't you?" ses Mrs. Pearce.

"I'm coming to it," ses Bill. "Six months ago I was in Melbourne, and
one day I was strolling about looking in at the shop-winders, when all
at once I thought I see a face I knew. It was a good bit older than when
I see it last, and the whiskers was gray, but I says to myself--"

"I can see wot's coming," ses Mrs. Morgan, turning red with excitement
and pinching Joe's arm.

"I ses to myself," ses Bill Flurry, "either that's a ghost, I ses or
else it's Charlie--"

"Go on," ses George Hatchard, as was sitting with 'is fists clinched on
the table and 'is eyes wide open, staring at 'im.

"Pearce," ses Bill Flurry.

You might 'ave heard a pin drop. They all sat staring at 'im, and then
George Hatchard took out 'is handkerchief and 'eld it up to 'is face.

"But he was drownded in the _Evening Star_" ses Joe Morgan.

Bill Flurry didn't answer 'im