up his
hand theatrically--"the image of my dear lost wife has been always in
front of me."

"I knew you at once, Jem," said Mrs. Pepper fondly, smoothing the hair
back from his forehead. "Have I altered much?"

"Not a bit," said Crippen, holding her at arm's length and carefully
regarding her. "You look just the same as the first time I set eyes on
you."

"Where have you been?" wailed Martha Pepper, putting her head on his
shoulder.

"When the Dolphin went down from under me, and left me fighting with the
waves for life and Martha, I was cast ashore on a desert island," began
Crippen fluently. "There I remained for nearly three years, when I was
rescued by a barque bound for New South Wales. There I met a man from
Poole who told me you were dead. Having no further interest in the land
of my birth, I sailed in Australian waters for many years, and it was
only lately that I heard how cruelly I had been deceived, and that my
little flower was still blooming."

The little flower's head being well down on his shoulder again, the
celebrated actor exchanged glances with the worshipping Pepper.

"If you'd only come before, Jem," said Mrs. Pepper. "Who was he? What
was his name?"

"Smith," said the cautious captain.

"If you'd only come before, Jem," said Mrs. Pepper, in a smothered
voice, "it would have been better. Only three months ago I married that
object over there."

The captain attempted a melodramatic start with such success, that,
having somewhat underestimated the weight of his fair bride, he nearly
lost his balance.

"It can't be helped, I suppose," he said reproachfully, "but you might
have waited a little longer, Martha."

"Well, I'm your wife, anyhow," said Martha, "and I'll take care I never
lose you again. You shall never go out of my sight again till you die.
Never."

"Nonsense, my pet," said the captain, exchanging uneasy glances with the
ex-pilot. "Nonsense."

"It isn't nonsense, Jem," said the lady, as she drew him on to the sofa
and sat with her arms round his neck. "It may be true, all you've told
me, and it may not. For all I know, you may have been married to some
other woman; but I've got you now, and I intend to keep you."

"There, there," said the captain, as soothingly as a strange sinking at
the heart would allow him.

"As for that other little man, I only married him because he worried
me so," said Mrs. Pepper tearfully. "I never loved him, but he used
to follow me about and p