loured 'air. That being so, it's only right and
proper that our dear old pal Ginger should 'ave the fust offer.'

"It wasn't often that Sam was so affeckshunate, and Ginger couldn't make
it out at all. Ever since 'e'd known 'im the old man 'ad been full o'
plans o' making money without earning it. Stupid plans they was, too,
but the stupider they was the more old Sam liked 'em.

"'Well, wot is it?' asks Ginger, agin.

"Old Sam walked over to the door and shut it; then 'e sat down on the
bed and spoke low so that Ginger could hardly 'ear 'im.

"'A little public-'ouse,' he ses, 'to say nothing of 'ouse properly, and
a red-'aired old landlady wot's a widder. As nice a old lady as any one
could wish for, for a mother.'

"For a mother!' ses Ginger, staring:

"'And a lovely barmaid with blue eyes and yellow 'air, wot 'ud be the
red-'edded man's cousin,' ses Peter Russet.

"'Look 'ere,' ses Ginger, 'are you going to tell me in plain English wot
it's all about, or are you not?'

"'We've been in a little pub down Bow way, me an' Peter,' ses Sam, 'and
we'll tell you more about it if you promise to join us an' go shares.
It's kep' by a widder woman whose on'y son--_red-'aired son_--went to
sea twenty-three years ago, at the age o' fourteen, an' was never 'eard
of arterwards. Seeing we was sailor-men, she told us all about it, an'
'ow she still 'opes for him to walk into 'er arms afore she dies.'

"'She dreamt a fortnit ago that 'e turned up safe and sound, with red
whiskers,' ses Peter.

"Ginger Dick sat up and looked at 'em without a word; then 'e got up out
o' bed, an' pushing old Sam out of the way began to dress, and at last
'e turned round and asked Sam whether he was drunk or only mad.

"'All right,' ses Sam; 'if you won't take it on we'll find somebody as
will, that's all; there's no call to get huffy about it. You ain't the
on'y red-'edded man in the world.'

"Ginger didn't answer 'im; he went on dressing, but every now and then
'e'd look at Sam and give a little larf wot made Sam's blood boil.

"'You've got nothin' to larf at, Ginger,' he ses, at last; 'the
landlady's boy 'ud be about the same age as wot you are now; 'e 'ad
a scar over the left eyebrow same as wot you've got, though I don't
suppose _he_ got it by fighting a chap three times 'is size. 'E 'ad
bright blue eyes, a small, well-shaped nose, and a nice mouth.'

"'Same as you, Ginger,' ses Peter, looking out of the winder.

"Ginger coughed and lo