ecket to
handle, though Decket's a good accountant."

"Well, I'm glad I'm out of it," said Captain Crowe. "I don't want the
bother o' business. I don't need to slave."

"No; you shouldn't have too much to carry at your time o' life,"
rejoined his friend, in a tone that was anything but soothing; and at
this moment Maria Lunn returned with her best lamp in full brilliancy.
She had listened eagerly to their exchange of compliments, and thought
it would be wise to change the subject.

"What's been goin' on down street today?" she asked. "I haven't had
occasion to go out, and I don't have anybody to bring me the news, as
I used to."

"Here's Cap'n Shaw makin' me out to be old enough to be his
grandfather," insisted Captain Crowe, laughing gently, as if he had
taken it as a joke. "Now, everybody knows I ain't but five years the
oldest. Shaw, you mustn't be settin' up for a young dandy. I've had a
good deal more sea service than you. I believe you never went out on a
long voyage round the Cape or the like o' that; those long voyages
count a man two years to one, if they're hard passages."

"No; I only made some few trips; the rest you might call coastin',"
said Captain Shaw handsomely. The two men felt more at ease and
reasonable with this familiar subject of experience and discussion. "I
come to the conclusion I'd better stop ashore. If I could ever have
found me a smart, dependable crew, I might have followed the sea
longer than I did."

It was in the big captain's heart to say, "Poor master, poor crew;"
but he refrained. It had been well known that in spite of Shaw's
ability as a money-maker on shore, he was no seaman, and never had
been. Mrs. Lunn was sure to have heard his defects commented on, but
she sat by the table, smiling, and gave no sign, though Captain Crowe
looked at her eagerly for a glance of understanding and contempt.

There was a moment of silence, and nobody seemed to know what to say
next. Mrs. Maria Lunn was not a great talker in company, although so
delightful in confidence and consultation. She wished now, from the
bottom of her heart, that one of her admirers would go away; but at
this instant there was a loud tapping at a back door in the farther
end of the house.

"I thought I heard somebody knocking a few minutes ago." Captain Crowe
rose like a buoy against the ceiling. "Here, now, I'm goin' to the
door for you, Mis' Lunn; there may be a tramp or somethin'."

"Oh, no," said the little