ot it would be," ses Mrs. Dixon, looking up from 'er sewing.
"You've only got your interfering ways to thank for it."

"This is a fine state of affairs in my own 'ouse," ses Dixon, 'ardly able
to speak. "You've got no proper feeling for your husband, Julia, else
you wouldn't allow it. Why, I was happier at sea than wot I am 'ere."

"Well, you'd better go back to it if you're so fond of it," ses 'is wife.

"I think I 'ad," ses Dixon. "If I can't be master in my own 'ouse I'm
better at sea, hard as it is. You must choose between us, Julia--me or
your relations. I won't sleep under the same roof as them for another
night. Am I to go?"

"Please yourself," ses 'is wife. "I don't mind your staying 'ere so long
as you behave yourself, but the others won't go; you can make your mind
easy on that."

"I'll go and look for another ship, then," ses Dixon, taking up 'is cap.
"I'm not wanted here. P'r'aps you wouldn't mind 'aving some clothes
packed into a chest for me so as I can go away decent."

He looked round at 'is wife, as though 'e expected she'd ask 'im not to
go, but she took no notice, and he opened the door softly and went out,
while old Burge, who 'ad come into the room and 'eard what he was saying,
trotted off upstairs to pack 'is chest for 'im.

In two hours 'e was back agin and more cheerful than he 'ad been since he
'ad come 'ome. Bob was in the bar and the others were just sitting down
to tea, and a big chest, nicely corded, stood on the floor in the corner
of the room.

"That's right," he ses, looking at it; "that's just wot I wanted."

"It's as full as it can be," ses old Burge. "I done it for you myself.
'Ave you got a ship?"

"I 'ave," ses Dixon. "A jolly good ship. No more hardships for me this
time. I've got a berth as captain."

"Wot?" ses 'is wife. "Captain? You!"

"Yes," ses Dixon, smiling at her. "You can sail with me if you like."

"Thankee," ses Mrs. Dixon, "I'm quite comfortable where I am."

"Do you mean to say you've got a master's berth?" ses Charlie, staring at
'im.

"I do," ses Dixon; "master and owner."

Charlie coughed. "Wot's the name of the ship?" he asks, winking at the
others.

"The BLUE LION," ses Dixon, in a voice that made 'em all start. "I'm
shipping a new crew and I pay off the old one to-night. You first, my
lad."

"Pay off," ses Charlie, leaning back in 'is chair and staring at 'im in a
puzzled way. "Blue Lion?"

"Yes," ses Dixon, in the sam