s so tickled with the idea that he went off into a roar of
sarcastic laughter.

"I'll tell 'ee what it is, Jack," he continued on recovering, "I
shouldn't wonder it in the course of a few months' residence with her,
Polly was to make a lady out of Aunt Maria--supposin' that to be
possible."

"Oh! father," remonstrated Polly.

"Come," cried the captain savagely, "give us a nor'-wester--that's it;
another--thank 'ee. The fact is, I'm goin' in for nor'-westers durin'
the next fortnight--goin' to have it blow a regular hurricane of 'em."

Philosopher Jack hoped, if at all allowable, that he might be permitted
to come under the influence of the gale, and then asked why Polly was
leaving her father.

"She's not leavin' me, bless you," said the captain, "it's me that's
leavin' _her_. The fact is, I've got a ship. What's left of me is not
over young, but it's uncommon tough, so I mean to use it up as long as
it lasts for Polly. I'm off to the East Indies in two or three weeks.
If it hadn't been for this Aunt Maria I shouldn't have known what to do
for Polly, so I've no call to abuse the stupid old thing. A lady,
indeed--ha!"

"You might have been quite sure that my father's house would have been
open to Polly," said Jack quite warmly, "or Mr Wilkins's, for the
matter of that."

"I know it lad, I know it" returned the captain, slapping his friend on
the shoulder, "but after all, this Aunt Maria--this lady-like
individual--is the most natural protector. But now, tell me, what of
O'Rook?"

"I know nothing of him. Haven't seen him for several days. When I last
met him he seemed to be much depressed, poor fellow. I don't wonder,
considering the fortune he has lost. However, Wilkins's father is sure
to do the best he can for him. He feels so deeply having led him and
the rest of us into this--though it was no fault of his, and he went in
and suffered along with us. I couldn't understand, however, what O'Rook
meant by some wild remarks he made the other day about taking to the
temperance line and going in for coffee and mutton chops up a
holly-tree. I hope it hasn't unseated his reason, poor fellow."

While the trio were thus discussing O'Rook over a cup of tea, that bold
Irishman was busily engaged "comforting the widdy" over a cup of coffee
in Mrs Bancroft's private parlour.

It is only just to O'Rook to say that he originally sought the widow
from a simple desire to tell her of her husband's sad end, which