Sunday-school teacher, and ha' done with it. I never 'ad such a dull time in all my life. Never. And the worst of it is, it's spiling my temper. And all because o' that narrer-eyed, red-chested—you know wot I mean!' 

     "He took another mouthful o' beer, and then he took 'old of my arm.     'Bill,' he ses, very earnest, 'I want you to do me a favour.' 

     "'Go ahead,' I ses. 

     "'I've got to meet a pal at Charing Cross at ha'-past seven,' he ses;     'and we're going to make a night of it. I've left Winnie in charge o'     the cook, and I've told 'im plain that, if she ain't there when I come back, I'll skin 'im alive. Now, I want you to watch 'er, too. Keep the gate locked, and don't let anybody in you don't know. Especially that monkey-faced imitation of a man. Here 'e is. That's his likeness.' 

     "He pulled a photygraph out of 'is coatpocket and 'anded it to me. 

     "'That's 'im,' he ses.  'Fancy a gal getting love-letters from a thing like that! And she was on'y twenty last birthday. Keep your eye on     'er, Bill, and don't let 'er out of your sight. You're worth two o' the cook.' 

     "He finished 'is beer, and, cuddling my arm, stepped back to the wharf. Miss Butt was sitting on the cabin skylight reading a book, and old Joe, the cook, was standing near 'er pretending to swab the decks with a mop. 

     "'I've got to go out for a little while—on business,' ses the skipper.     'I don't s'pose I shall be long, and, while I'm away, Bill and the cook will look arter you.' 

     "Miss Butt wrinkled up 'er shoulders. 

     "'The gate'll be locked, and you're not to leave the wharf. D'ye 'ear?' 

     "The gal wriggled 'er shoulders agin and went on reading, but she gave the cook a look out of 'er innercent baby eyes that nearly made 'im drop the mop. 

     "'Them's my orders,' ses the skipper, swelling his chest and looking round, 'to everybody. You know wot'll 'appen to you, Joe, if things ain't right when I come back. Come along, Bill, and lock the gate arter me. An' mind, for your own sake, don't let anything 'appen to that gal while I'm away.' 

     "'Wot time'll you be back?' I ses, as 'e stepped through the wicket. 

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