e 'ere, and I
come back to keep you company.'

"He winked at something acrost the river as 'e spoke, and I stood there
thinking my 'ardest wot was the best thing to be done. I couldn't get
Mrs. Pratt away while 'e was there; besides which I felt quite sartain
she wouldn't go. The only 'ope I 'ad was that he'd get tired of spying
on me and go away before he found out she was 'iding on the wharf.

"I walked off in a unconcerned way--not too far--and, with one eye on 'im
and the other on where Mrs. Pratt was 'iding, went on with my work.
There's nothing like 'ard work when a man is worried, and I was a'most
forgetting my troubles, when I looked up and saw the Monarch coming up
the river.

"She turned to come into 'er berth, with the skipper shouting away on the
bridge and making as much fuss as if 'e was berthing a liner. I helped
to make 'er fast, and the skipper, arter 'e had 'ad a good look round to
see wot 'e could find fault with, went below to clean 'imself.

"He was up agin in about ten minutes, with a clean collar and a clean
face, and a blue neck-tie that looked as though it 'ad got yeller
measles. Good temper 'e was in, too, and arter pulling the office-boy's
ear, gentle, as 'e was passing, he stopped for a moment to 'ave a word
with 'im.

"'Bit late, ain't you?' he ses.

"'I've been keeping a eye on the watchman,' ses the boy. 'He works
better when 'e knows there's somebody watching 'im.'

"'Look 'ere!' I ses. 'You take yourself off; I've had about enough of
you. You take your little face 'ome and ask your mother to wipe its
nose. Strickly speaking, you've no right to be on the wharf at all at
this time.'

"'I've as much right as other people,' he ses, giving me a wicked look.
'I've got more right than some people, p'r'aps.'

"He stooped down deliberate and, picking up a bit o' coke from the 'eap
by the crane, pitched it over at the empties.

"'Stop that!' I ses, shouting at 'im.

"'What for?' 'e ses, shying another piece. 'Why shouldn't I?'

"'Cos I won't 'ave it,' I ses. 'D'ye hear? Stop it!'

"I rushed at 'im as he sent another piece over, and for the next two or
three minutes 'e was dodging me and chucking coke at the empties, with
the fool of a skipper standing by laughing, and two or three of the crew
leaning over the side and cheering 'im on.

"'All right,' he ses, at last, dusting 'is hands together. 'I've
finished. There's no need to make such a fuss over a bit of coke.'