ean."

"Any man," continued the skipper, "as would lay in a comfortable
state-room, George, and leave a lady a-trying to turn and to dress
and ondress herself in a poky little locker, ought to be ashamed of
himself."

"You see, it's the luggage they bring," said the mate, slowly refilling
his pipe. "What they want with it all I can't think. As soon as my old
woman makes up her mind to come for a trip, tomorrow being Bank Holiday,
an' she being in the mind for a outing, what does she do?' Goes down
Commercial Road and buys a bonnet far beyond her station."

"They're all like it," said the skipper; "mine's just as bad. What does
that boy want?"

The boy approached the edge of the jetty, and, peering down at them,
answered for himself.

"Who's Captain Bunnett?" he demanded shrilly.

"That's me, my lad," said the skipper, looking up.

"I've got a letter for yer," said the boy, holding it out.

The skipper held out his hands and caught it; and, after reading the
contents, felt his beard and looked at the mate.

"It never rains but it pours," he said figuratively.

"What's up?" inquired the other.

"'Ere's my old woman coming now," said the skipper. "Sent a note to
say she's getting ready as fast as she can, an' I'm not to sail on any
account till she comes."

"That's awkward," said the mate, who felt that he was expected to say
something.

"It never struck me to tell her your wife was coming," said the skipper.
"Where we're to put 'em both I don't know. I s'pose it's quite certain
your wife'll come?"

"Certain," said the mate.

"No chance of 'er changing 'er mind?" suggested the skipper, looking
away from him.

"Not now she's got that bonnet," replied the mate. "I s'pose there's no
chance of your wife changing hers?"

The skipper shook his head. "There's one thing," he said hopefully,
"they'll be nice company for each other. They'll have to 'ave the
state-room between 'em. It's a good job my wife ain't as big as yours."

"We'll be able to play four 'anded wist sometimes," said the mate, as he
followed the skipper below to see what further room could be made.

"Crowded, but jolly," said the other.

The two cabs drove up almost at the same moment while they were below,
and Mrs. Bunnett's cabman had no sooner staggered on to the jetty with
her luggage than Mrs. Fillson's arrived with hers.

The two ladies, who were entire strangers, stood regarding each other
curiously as they looked down at the bare