alone.

"Now you go in the kitchen," she said, looking from the window. "Here he
comes. You see how I'll settle him."

The skipper looked out of the window and saw the unhappy victim of
Captain Zingall slowly approaching. His wife drew him away, and, despite
his remonstrances, pushed him into the next room and closed the door.

She sat on the sofa calmly sewing, as the mate, whose hardihood was
rapidly failing him, entered Her manner gave him no assistance whatever,
and coming sheepishly in he took a chair.

"I've come home," he said at last

"So I see, Ben," said Mrs. Bradd, calmly.

"He's told her," said the mate to himself.

"Children all right?" he inquired, after another pause.

"Yes," said Mrs. Bradd, simply. "Little Joe's boots are almost off his
feet, though."

"Ah," said the mate, blankly.

"I've been waiting for you to come, Ben," said Mrs. Bradd after a pause.
"I want you to change a five-pound note Uncle Dick gave me."

"Can't do it," said the mate, briefly. The absence of Captain Bradd
was disquieting to a bashful man in such a position, and he had looked
forward to a stormy scene which was to bring him to his senses again.

"Show me what you've got," said Mrs. Bradd, leaning forward.

The mate pulled out an old leather purse and counted the contents, two
pounds and a little silver.

"There isn't five pounds there," said Mrs. Bradd, "but I may as well
take last week's housekeeping while you've got it out."

Before the mate could prevent her she had taken the two pounds and put
it in her pocket. He looked at her placid face in amazement, but she met
his gaze calmly and drummed on the table with her thimble.

"No, no, I want the money myself," said the mate at last. He put his
hands to his head and began to prepare for the grand transformation
scene. "My head's gone," he said, in a gurgling voice. "What am I doing
here? Where am I?"

"Good gracious, what's the matter with the man?" said Mrs. Bradd, with a
scream. She snatched up a bowl of flowers and flung the contents in his
face as her husband burst into the room. The mate sprang to his feet,
spluttering.

"What am I doing here, Cap'n Bradd?" he said in his usual voice.

"He's come round!" said Bradd, ecstatically. "He's come round. Oh,
George, you have been playing the fool. Don't you know what you've been
doing?"

The mate shook his head, and stared round the room. "I thought we were
in London," he said, putting his hand to his h