an? Laura
Lamb! wot 'ave you got to say for yourself? Where 'ave you been all the
evening?'

"'She's been to a music-'all with Bill,' ses the cook. 'We saw 'em.'

"'WOT?' ses the cap'n, falling back again. 'It can't be!'

"'It was them,' ses my wife. 'A little boy brought me a note telling me.
You let me go; it's my husband, and I want to talk to 'im.'

"'It's all right,' I ses, waving my 'and at Miss Lamb, wot was going to
speak, and smiling at my missis, wot was trying to get at me.

"'We went to look for you,' ses Miss Lamb, very quick. 'He said you were
at the music-'all, and as you 'adn't got my letter I thought it was very
likely.'

"'But I did get your letter,' ses the cap'n.

"'He said you didn't,' ses Miss Lamb.

"'Look 'ere,' I ses. 'Why don't you keep quiet and let me explain? I
can explain everything.'

"'I'm glad o' that, for your sake, my man,' ses the cap'n, looking at me
very hard. 'I 'ope you will be able to explain 'ow it was you came to
leave the wharf for three hours.'

"I saw it all then. If I split about Mrs. Plimmer, he'd split to the
guv'nor about my leaving my dooty, and I should get the sack. I thought
I should ha' choked, and, judging by the way they banged me on the back,
Bob and the cook thought so too. They 'elped me to a chair when I got
better, and I sat there 'elpless while the cap'n went on talking.

"'I'm no mischief-maker,' he ses; 'and, besides, p'r'aps he's been
punished enough. And as far as I'm concerned he can take this lady to a
music-'all every night of the week if 'e likes. I've done with her.'

"There was an eggsterrordinary noise from where my missis was standing;
like the gurgling water makes sometimes running down the kitchen sink at
'ome, only worse. Then they all started talking together, and 'arf-a-
dozen times or more Miss Lamb called me to back 'er up in wot she was
saying, but I only shook my 'ead, and at last, arter tossing her 'ead at
Cap'n Tarbell and telling 'im she wouldn't 'ave 'im if he'd got fifty
million a year, the five of 'em 'eld my missis while she went off.

"They gave 'er ten minutes' start, and then Cap'n Tarbell, arter looking
at me and shaking his 'ead, said he was afraid they must be going.

"'And I 'ope this night'll be a lesson to you,' he ses. 'Don't neglect
your dooty again. I shall keep my eye on you, and if you be'ave yourself
I sha'n't say anything. Why, for all you know or could ha' done the
wharf might ha