s, indicating a coil of rope. "Sit down and
have it out."

VI.

Some five or six years later, Mr. Harris--who resides in a small West
Country town, the name of which does not concern us--was seated in
his library reading, when his parlourmaid brought him a card--
"Mr. Wilkins, I.T.S. _Egeria_."

"I scarcely hoped that you would remember me, sir," began the
Schoolmaster, on being introduced. "But, happening to pass through--
on a holiday trip, a walking tour--I ventured to call and ask news of
Link Andrew. You may remember our having a conversation about him
once on board the _Egeria_?"

"I remember it perfectly," said Mr. Harris; "and you'll be glad to
hear that Andrew is doing remarkably well; is saving money, in fact,
and contemplates getting married."

"Indeed, sir, that is good hearing. I was afraid that he might have
left your employment."

"So, to be sure, he has; taking with him, moreover, an excellent
character. He is now a second gardener at a steady wage."

"You can't think, sir, how you relieve my mind. To tell the truth, I
met him, less than an hour ago; and by his manner . . . But I had
better tell you how it happened: I knew, of course, that you had
interested yourself in Link and found a job for him. But after he'd
left the ship he never let us hear word of his doings. . . . Well,
passing through your town just now, I ran up against him. He was
coming along the street, and I recognised him on the instant; but all
of a sudden he turned and began to stare in at a shop-window--an
ironmonger's--giving me his back. I made sure, of course, that he
hadn't spied me; so I stepped up and said I, 'Hallo, Link, my lad!'
clapping a hand on his shoulder. He turned about, treated me to a
long stare, and says he, 'Aren't you makin' some mistake, mister?'
'Why,' says I, 'surely I haven't changed so much as all that since
the days I taught you vulgar fractions on board the old _Egeria_?
I'm Mr. Wilkins,' says I. 'Oh, are you?' says he. 'Then,
Mr. Wilkins, you can go back to hell and take 'em my compliments
there.' That's all he said, and he walked away down the street."

"That's queer," said Mr. Harris, polishing his spectacles. "Yes, he
came to me as gardener's boy--I thought it would be a pleasant change
after the ship; and he served his apprenticeship well. I remember
that in answer to my application the Secretary wrote: 'Of course we
prefer to train our lads to the sea; but when one has no