aside for tattooing. Doubtless this would not be one of them.

Four seamen sat within by the stove and under the light of the swinging
lamp, smoking, patiently awaiting their turn. In the fog of tobacco
smoke, which almost took Hester's breath away, they rose politely and
saluted her. Big, shy boys they seemed to her, with the whites of their
eyes extraordinarily clear against their swarthy complexions. Somehow she
felt at home with them instantly, and no more afraid than if they had been
children in her school.

One of them called Mr. Benny from the tiny inner office, or cupboard,
where he conducted his confidential business, and the little man came
running out in a flurry with one hand grasping a handkerchief and the
other nervously thrust in his dishevelled hair.

"You will forgive me, my dear, for sending? The truth is, I am at my
wits' end to-night and cannot concentrate myself. I have heard news
to-day--no, nothing to distress me--on the contrary."--He gazed round
helplessly. "It has upset me, though. I was wondering if you will be
very kind and help me?"

"Help you?" echoed Hester. "Oh, Mr. Benny, you surely don't ask me to
write your letters for you!"

"Not if you would find it distasteful, my dear."

"But I don't know; I assure you I haven't an idea how to do it!"

"You would find it come easy, for that matter." Mr. Benny drew a quill
pen from behind his right ear, eyed its point dejectedly for a moment, and
replaced it. "But, of course, if you feel like that, we'll say no more
about it, and I'm sorry to have troubled you."

"If it's merely writing down from dictation--"

"You will find it a little more than _that_," Mr. Benny admitted.

Hester looked around on the faces of the seamen. They said nothing; they
even watched her with sympathy, as though, while dumbly backing Mr.
Benny's petition, they felt him to be asking too much; yet she divined
that they were disappointed.

"I will try," she said with sudden resolve, and their approving murmur at
once rewarded her. "Only you must be patient, and forgive my mistakes."

"That's a very good lass," said one of them aloud, as Mr. Benny shook her
by the hand and led her triumphantly to the little inner office.
Hester heard the words, and in spite of nervousness was glad that she had
chosen to be brave.

The inner office contained a desk, a stool, and a deal chair. These, with
a swinging lamp, a shelf of books, and a Band of Hope Almanack,