you s'pose you are going to make an impression if you don't look
smart?"

"Well, I look tidier than you do," growled the mate.

"Of course you do," said the wily Evans. "I'm going to give you all the
chances I can. Now you go and shave yourself, and here--take it."

He passed the surprised mate a brilliant red silk tie, embellished with
green spots.

"No, no," said the mate deprecatingly.

"Take it," repeated Evans; "if anything'll fetch her it'll be that tie;
and here's a couple of collars for you; they're a new shape, quite the
rage down Poplar way just now."

"It's robbing you," said the mate, "and it's no good either. I ain't got
a decent suit of clothes to my back."

Evans looked up, and their eyes met; then, with a catch in his breath,
he turned away, and after some hesitation went to his locker, and
bringing out a new suit, bought for the edification of Miss Jones,
handed it silently to the mate.

"I can't take all these things without giving you something for 'em,"
said the mate. "Here, wait a bit."

He dived into his cabin, and, after a hasty search, brought out some
garments which he placed on the table before his commander.

"I wouldn't wear 'em, no, not to drown myself in," declared Evans after
a brief glance; "they ain't even decent."

"So much the better," said the mate; "it'll be more of a contrast with
me."

After a slight contest the skipper gave way, and the mate, after an
elaborate toilette, went on deck and began to make himself agreeable,
while his chief skulked below trying to muster up courage to put in an
appearance.

"Where's the captain?" inquired Miss Cooper, after his absence had been
so prolonged as to become noticeable.

"He's below, dressin', I b'leeve," replied the mate simply.

Miss Cooper, glancing at his attire, smiled softly to herself, and
prepared for something startling, and she got it; for a more forlorn,
sulky-looking object than the skipper, when he did appear, had never
been seen on the deck of the Falcon, and his London betrothed glanced at
him hot with shame and indignation.

"Whatever have you got those things on for?" she whispered.

"Work, my dear--work," replied the skipper.

"Well, mind you don't lose any of the pieces," said the dear suavely;
"you mightn't be able to match that cloth."

"I'll look after that," said the skipper, reddening. "You must excuse me
talkin' to you now. I'm busy."

Miss Cooper looked at him indignantly, and, biting her