room being on the port side? Both of them stern cabins have
been fitted up afresh like a blessed palace. A gang of people from some
tip-top West-End house were fussing here on board with hangings and
furniture for a fortnight, as if the Queen were coming with us. Of
course the starboard cabin is the bedroom one, but the poor captain hangs
out to port on a couch, so that in case we want him on deck at night,
Mrs. Anthony should not be startled. Nervous! Phoo! A woman who
marries a sailor and makes up her mind to come to sea should have no
blamed jumpiness about her, I say. But never mind. Directly the old cab
pointed round the corner of the warehouse I called out to the captain
that his lady was coming aboard. He answered me, but as I didn't see him
coming, I went down the gangway myself to help her alight. She jumps out
excitedly without touching my arm, or as much as saying "thank you" or
"good morning" or anything, turns back to the cab, and then that old
joker comes out slowly. I hadn't noticed him inside. I hadn't expected
to see anybody. It gave me a start. She says: "My father--Mr.
Franklin." He was staring at me like an owl. "How do you do, sir?" says
I. Both of them looked funny. It was as if something had happened to
them on the way. Neither of them moved, and I stood by waiting. The
captain showed himself on the poop; and I saw him at the side looking
over, and then he disappeared; on the way to meet them on shore, I
expected. But he just went down below again. So, not seeing him, I
said: "Let me help you on board, sir." "On board!" says he in a silly
fashion. "On board!" "It's not a very good ladder, but it's quite
firm," says I, as he seemed to be afraid of it. And he didn't look a
broken-down old man, either. You can see yourself what he is. Straight
as a poker, and life enough in him yet. But he made no move, and I began
to feel foolish. Then she comes forward. "Oh! Thank you, Mr. Franklin.
I'll help my father up." Flabbergasted me--to be choked off like this.
Pushed in between him and me without as much as a look my way. So of
course I dropped it. What do you think? I fell back. I would have gone
up on board at once and left them on the quay to come up or stay there
till next week, only they were blocking the way. I couldn't very well
shove them on one side. Devil only knows what was up between them. There
she was, pale as death, talking to him very fast. He got as re