love of me as 'ad changed her."

"You ain't written to her, I suppose?" asked Nibletts, twisting his
features into an expression of great cunning.

Captain Barber shook his head. "If you'd think afore speaking,
Nibletts," he said, severely, "you'd know as people don't write to each
other when they're in the same house."

The skipper apologised. "What I mean to say is this," he said, softly.
"She hasn't got your promise in writing, and she's done all the talking
about it. I'm the only one you've spoken to about it, I s'pose?"

Captain Barber nodded.

"Well, forget all about it," said Nibletts, in an excited whisper.

Captain Barber looked at him pityingly.

"What good'll that do?" he asked.

"Forget the understanding," continued Nibletts, in a stage whisper,
"forget everything; forget Captain Flower's death, act as you acted just
afore he went. People'll soon see as you're strange in your manner, and
I'll put the news about as you've been so affected by that affair that
your memory's gone."

"I was thinking of doing that the other day myself," said Captain
Barber, slowly and untruthfully.

"I thought you was, from something you said," replied Nibletts.

"I think I spoke of it, or I was going to," said Barber.

"You did say something," said Nibletts.

"I wonder what would be the best way to begin," said Barber, regarding
him attentively.

Captain Niblett's nerve failed him at the responsibility.

"It's your plan, Captain Barber," he said, impressively, "and nobody can
tell a man like you how it should be done. It wants acting, and you've
got to have a good memory to remember that you haven't got a memory."

"Say that agin," said Captain Barber, breathing thickly.

Captain Nibletts repeated it, and Captain Barber, after clearing
his brain with a glass of spirits, bade him a solemn good-night, and
proceeded slowly to his home. The door was opened by Mrs. Church, and
a hum of voices from the front room indicated company. Captain Barber,
hanging his hat on a peg, entered the room to discover Mrs. Banks and
daughter, attended by Mr. Gibson.

"Where's Fred?" he asked, slowly, as he took a seat.

"_Who?_" said Miss Banks, with a little scream.

"Lawk-a-mussy, bless the man," said her mother. "I never did."

"Not come in yet?" asked Barber, looking round with a frightful stare.
"The _Foam's_ up!"

The company exchanged glances of consternation.

"Why, is he alive?" enquired Mrs. Church, sharply.

"Al