ge; and
the mate, after a few murmured words of encouragement to the skipper,
also departed. Captain Hunt looked first at the small cause of his
trouble, who had drawn off to some distance, and then at the house.
Then, with a determined gesture, he turned the handle of the door and
walked in. His wife, who was sitting in an armchair, with her eyes on
the floor, remained motionless.

"Look here, Polly--," he began.

"Don't talk to me," was the reply. "I wonder you can look me in the
face."

The skipper ground his teeth, and strove to maintain an air of judicial
calm.

"If you'll only be reasonable--," he remarked, severely.

"I thought there was something secret going on," said Mrs. Hunt. "I've
often looked at you when you've been sitting in that chair, with a
worried look on your face, and wondered what it was. But I never thought
it was so bad as this. I'll do you the credit to say that I never
thought of such a thing as this.... What did you say?... What?"

"I said 'damn!'" said the skipper, explosively.

"Yes, I've no doubt," said his wife, fiercely. "You think you're going
to carry it off with a high hand and bluster; but you won't bluster
me, my man. I'm not one of your meek and mild women who'll put up with
anything. I'm not one of your--"

"I tell you," said the skipper, "that the boy calls everybody his
father. I dare say he's claimed another by this time."

Even as he spoke the handle turned, and the door opening a few inches
disclosed the anxious face of Master Jones. Mrs. Hunt, catching the
skipper's eye, pointed to it in an ecstasy of silent wrath. There was a
breathless pause, broken at last by the boy.

"Mother!" he said, softly.

Mrs. Hunt stiffened in her chair and her arms fell by her side as she
gazed in speechless amazement. Master Jones, opening the door a little
wider, gently insinuated his small figure into the room. The skipper
gave one glance at his wife and then, turning hastily away, put his hand
over his mouth, and, with protruding eyes, gazed out of the window.

"Mother, can I come in?" said the boy.

"Oh, Polly!" sighed the skipper. Mrs. Hunt strove to regain the
utterance of which astonishment had deprived her.

"I... what... Joe... don't be a fool!"

"Yes, I've no doubt," said the skipper, theatrically. "Oh, Polly! Polly!
Polly!"

He put his hand over his mouth again and laughed silently, until
his wife, coming behind him, took him by the shoulders and shook him
viole