"What do you mean by helmets, my boy?"

"Worsted ones, of course. Things made to kiver up a man's head and
neck and come down to his shoulders, with a hole in front just big
enough to let his eyes, nose, and cheek-bones come through. With a
sou'-wester on top, and a comforter round the neck, they're not so bad
in a stiff nor'-wester in Janoowairy. Now's your chance, ladies, now,
or niver!"

There was something so ludicrous in the manly tone and decided manner of
the smooth-faced little creature before them, that the sisters burst
into a hearty fit of laughter.

"Forgive us, dear boy, but the idea of our being asked in this sudden
way to make innumerable mitts and comforters and worsted helmets seems
so odd that we can't help laughing. What is your name? That is not a
secret, I hope?"

"By no means. My name is Billy Bright. If you're very partikler, you
may call me Willum."

"I prefer Billy," said Kate. "Now, Billy, it is near our dinner hour.
Will you stay and dine with us? If you do, you'll meet such a nice
man--such a big man too--and somewhat in your own line of life; a
sea-captain. We expect him every--"

"No, thank 'ee, Miss," interrupted the boy, rising abruptly. "I sees
more than enough o' big sea-captings when I'm afloat. Besides, I've got
more business on hand, so I'll bid 'ee good-day."

Pulling his forelock he left the room.

"The ladies has undertook some work for me, my dear," said Billy to
Liffie Lee, as he stood at the door buttoning up his little coat, "so
p'raps I may see you again."

"It won't break my 'art if you don't," replied Liffie; "no, nor yet
yours."

"Speak for yourself, young 'ooman. You don't know nothing about _my_
'art."

As he spoke, a heavy foot was heard at the bottom of the stair.

"That's our lodger," said Liffie; "no foot but his can bang the stair or
make it creak like that."

"Well, I'm off," cried Billy, descending two steps at a time.

Half-way down he encountered what seemed to him a giant with a chest on
his shoulder. It was the darkest part of the stair where they met.

"Look out ahead! Hard a starboard!" growled Captain Bream, who seemed
to be heavily weighted.

"Ay, ay, sir!" cried Billy, as he brushed past, bounded into the street,
and swaggered away.

"What boy was that, Liffie?" asked the captain, letting down the chest
he carried with a shock that caused the frail tenement to quiver from
cellar to roof-tree.

"I don't know, sir