wrote on a sheet of paper headed by a monogram which is
"S.W. & B." so far as I can make out. To make up for the fullness of the
date there is no address.

"I cannot lay blame to myself, Posh, in this matter, though I may not
have known you were so busy with the boat as you tell me. Hearing of
great disasters by last week's gale, I was, as usual, anxious about
you. Hearing nothing from you, I telegram'd on Thursday Afternoon to
Mr. Bradbeer: his answer reached me at 5 p.m. that you had come in on
Tuesday, and were then safe in harbour. Being then afraid lest you
should put off paying away the money, which, as I told you, was a
positive _danger_ to Wife and Children, I directly telegram'd to _you_
to do what I had desired you to do the week before. Busy as you were,
five minutes spent in writing me a line would have spared all this
trouble and all this vexation on both sides.

"As to my telegrams telling all the world what you wish to keep
secret; how did they do that? My telegrams to Mr. Bradbeer were
simply to ask if you were _safe_. My telegram to you was simply to
say, 'Do what I bid you'; Who should know _what_ that was, or that it
had anything to do with paying the Boat's Bills? People might guess
it had _something_ to do with the Boat: and don't you suppose that
every one knows pretty well how things are between us? And why should
they not, I say, when all is honestly done between us? The Custom
House people must know (and, of course, tell others) that you are at
present only Half-owner; and would suppose that _I_, the other Half,
would use some Authority in the matter.

"You say truly that, when we began together, you supposed I should
leave all to you, and use _no_ Authority (though you have always asked
me about anything you wished done). Quite true. I never did wish to
meddle; nor did I call on you for any Account, till I saw last year
that you forgot a really important sum, and that you did not seem
inclined to help your Memory (as every one else does) by writing it
down in a Book. In two cases this year I have shown you the same
forgetfulness (about your liabilities I mean) and I do not think I
have been unjust, or unkind, in trying to make you bring _yourself_ to
Account. You know, and ought to believe, that I have perfect
confidence in _your honour_; and have told you of the one defect I
ob