ollowing us about 152]

"I sha'n't follow you," said Mr. Heard; "it's your last evening, so
you'd better make the most of it."

He turned on his heel, and the mate, pondering on his last words, went
thoughtfully on to the house.

Amid the distraction of pleasant society and a long walk, the matter
passed from his mind, and he only remembered it at nine o'clock that
evening as a knock sounded on the door and the sallow face of Mr. Heard
was thrust into the room.

"Good-evening all," said the intruder.

"Evening, Arthur," said Mr. Smith, affably.

Mr. Heard with a melancholy countenance entered the room and closed the
door gently behind him. Then he coughed slightly and shook his head.

"Anything the matter, Arthur?" inquired Mr. Smith, somewhat disturbed by
these, manifestations.

"I've got something on my mind," said Mr. Heard, with a diabolical
glance at the mate--"something wot's been worrying me for a long time.
I've been deceiving you."

"That was always your failing, Arthur--deceit-fulness," said Mrs. Smith.
"I remember--"

"We've both been deceiving you," interrupted Mr. Heard, loudly. "I
didn't jump into the harbor the other night, and I didn't tumble in,
and Mr. Fred Dix didn't jump in after me; we just went to the end of the
harbor and walked in and wetted ourselves."

There was a moment's intense silence and all eyes turned on the mate.
The latter met them boldly.

"It's a habit o' mine to walk into the water and spoil my clothes for
the sake of people I've never met before," he said, with a laugh.

"For shame, Arthur!" said Mr. Smith, with a huge sigh of relief.

"'Ow can you?" said Mrs. Smith.

"Arthur's been asleep since then," said the mate, still smiling. "All
the same, the next time he jumps in he can get out by himself."

Mr. Heard, raising his voice, entered into a minute description of
the affair, but in vain. Mr. Smith, rising to his feet, denounced his
ingratitude in language which was seldom allowed to pass unchallenged
in the presence of his wife, while that lady contributed examples of
deceitfulness in the past of Mr. Heard, which he strove in vain to
refute, Meanwhile, her daughter patted the mate's hand.

"It's a bit too thin, Arthur," said the latter, with a mocking smile;
"try something better next time."

"Very well," said Mr. Heard, in quieter tones; "I dare you to come along
to the harbor and jump in, just as you are, where you said you jumped in
after me. They'll so