"'Sartainly,' I ses. 

     "She got out her pen and ink and paper, and wrote.  'I sha'n't be long,'     she ses, looking up and nibbling 'er pen.  'It's a letter to my dressmaker; she promised my dress by six o'clock this afternoon, and I am just writing to tell her that if I don't have it by ten in the morning she can keep it.' 

     "'Quite right,' I ses; 'it's the on'y way to get things done.' 

     "'It's my way,' she ses, sticking the letter in an envelope and licking it down.  'Nice name, isn't it?' 

     "She passed it over to me, and I read the name and address: 'Miss Minnie Miller, 17, John Street, Mile End Road.' 

     "'That'll wake her up,' She ses, smiling.  'Will you ask Joe to take it for me?' 

     "'He—he's on guard,' I ses, smiling back at 'er and shaking my 'ead. 

     "'I know,' she ses, in a low voice.  'But I don't want any guard—only you. I don't like guards that peep down skylights.' 

     "I looked up just in time to see Joe's 'ead disappear. Then I nipped up,     and arter I 'ad told 'im part of wot I thought about 'im I gave 'im the letter and told 'im to sheer off. 

     "'The skipper told me to stay 'ere,' he ses, looking obstinate. 

     "'You do as you're told,' I ses.  'I'm in charge, and I take full responsibility. I shall lock the gate arter you. Wot are you worrying about?' 

     "'And here's a shilling, Joe, for a bus fare,' ses the gal, smiling.     'You can keep the change.' 

     "Joe took off 'is cap and scratched 'is silly bald 'ead. 

     "'Come on,' I ses; 'it's a letter to a dressmaker. A letter that must go to-night.' 

     "'Else it's no use,' ses the gal.  'You don't know 'ow important it is.' 

     "'All right,' ses Joe.  ''Ave it your own way. So long as you don't tell the skipper I don't mind. If anything 'appens you'll catch it too, Bill.' 

     "He climbed ashore, and I follered 'im to the gate and unlocked it. He was screwing up 'is eye ready for a wink, but I give 'im such a look that he thought 

 Prev. P 6/9 next