see? Then on top of all that poor Fred goes
and gets drownded."

"But have you promised to marry her?" asked Nibletts, with a cunning
look.

"Of course I've not," rejoined Captain Barber, testily; "but when you
know as much about wimmen as I do, you'll know that that's got nothing
to do with it. It gets took for granted. Mrs. Church's whole manner to
me now is that of a engaged young person. If she was sitting here now
she'd put 'er hand on top o' mine."

"Not before me?" said Nibletts, in a shocked voice.

"Before the Prince of Wales and all the Royal Family," replied Captain
Barber, with conviction. "You've no idea how silly and awkward it makes
me feel."

"Here she comes," said Nibletts, in a low voice, "and Mrs. Banks and her
daughter, too."

Captain Barber coughed and, sitting upright, strove to look unconcerned
as the three ladies came into the room and expressed their pleasure at
seeing him.

"I couldn't think what 'ad happened to you," said Mrs. Banks, as she
sank panting into a chair, and, unfastening her bonnet-strings, sat
regarding him with her hands on her knees.

"I knew he was all right," said Mrs. Church, folding her hands and
regarding him with her head on one side; "if anything happened to him I
should know if he was a hundred miles away."

She sat down by Captain Barber, and laying her hand upon his, pressed
it affectionately. The captain, a picture of misery, exchanged a
significant glance with Nibletts, and emitted an involuntary groan.

"Don't take on so," said Mrs. Banks, compassionately. "Do you know, I've
got a feeling that poor Fred has been saved!"

"That's my feeling, too," said Captain Barber, in a firm voice.

"It's very likely," said Captain Nibletts, slowly.

"What's easier than for him to have been picked up by a passing vessel,
and carried off goodness knows where?" enquired Mrs. Banks, with a
glance evenly distributed between her daughter and the housekeeper.

"I heard of a man once who fell overboard," said Captain Nibletts,
softly, "and he turned up safe and sound twenty years arter."

"Married man?" enquired Miss Banks, softly.

"He was," said the captain, with the doggedness of a witness under
cross-examination.

Mrs. Church turned her eyes upwards. "Fancy the joyful meeting of
husband and wife," she said, sentimentally.

"She died just two days afore he turned up," said Captain Nibletts,
simply.

There was a frigid silence during which the three ladies, s