igh broke out an' made his escape, but the
doctor he got 'old of it by the tail an' 'eld on till 'e indooced it to
stay on a bit longer. There you are, sir; might shave in 'em!"

"How much to pay?"

"Vell, gen'lemen usually gives me a penny, but that's in or'nary cases.
Ven I has to shine boots like a pair o' ships' boats I looks for suthin'
hextra--though I don't always get it!"

"There you are, my lad," said the captain, giving the boy something
"hextra," which appeared to satisfy him. Thereafter he proceeded to the
Bridge, and, embarking on one of the river steamers, was soon deposited
at Pimlico. Thence, traversing St. George's Square, he soon found
himself in the little street in which dwelt the Misses Seaward. He
looked about him for some minutes and then entered a green-grocer's
shop, crushing his hat against the top of the door-way.

Wishing the green-grocer good-morning he asked if lodgings were to be
had in that neighbourhood.

"Well, yes, sir," he replied, "but I fear that you'd find most of 'em
rather small for a man of your size."

"No fear o' that," replied the captain with a loud guffaw, which roused
the grocer's cat a little, "I'm used to small cabins, an' smaller bunks,
d'ee see, an' can stow myself away easy in any sort of hole. Why, I've
managed to snooze in a bunk only five foot four, by clewin' up my legs--
though it wasn't comfortable. But it's not the size I care about so
much as the character o' the landlady. I like tidy respectable people,
you see--havin' bin always used to a well-kept ship."

"Ah! I know one who'll just suit you. Up at the other end o' the
street. Two rooms kept by a young widow who--"

"Hold hard there," interrupted the captain; "none o' your young widows
for me. They're dangerous. Besides, big as I am, I don't want _two_
rooms to sleep in. If you know of any old maid, now, with _one_ room--
that's what would suit me to a tee; an easy-going sort o' woman, who--"

"I know of two elderly _ladies_," interrupted the green-grocer,
thoughtfully; "they're sisters, and have got a small room to let; but--
but--they're delicate sort o' creeters, you know; have seen better days,
an' are raither timid, an' might want a female lodger, or a man who--
who--"

"Out with it," interrupted the captain, "a man who is soft-spoken and
well-mannered--not a big noisy old sea-horse like me! Is that what you
would say?"

"Just so," answered the green-grocer with an amiable no