course, and by and by she put her book down and climbed on to the side o' the ship and held out her 'and for me to 'elp her ashore. “'I'm so tired of the ship,' she ses, in a soft voice; 'it's like a prison. Don't you get, tired of the wharf?' “'I'm so tired of the ship,' she ses, in a soft voice; 'it's like a prison. Don't you get, tired of the wharf?' “'Sometimes,' I ses; 'but it's my dooty.' “'Sometimes,' I ses; 'but it's my dooty.' “'Yes,' she ses. 'Yes, of course. But you're a big, strong man, and you can put up with things better.' “'Yes,' she ses. 'Yes, of course. But you're a big, strong man, and you can put up with things better.' “She gave a little sigh, and we walked up and down for a time without saying anything. “She gave a little sigh, and we walked up and down for a time without saying anything. “'And it's all father's foolishness,' she ses, at last; 'that's wot makes it so tiresome. I can't help a pack of silly young men writing to me, can I?' “'And it's all father's foolishness,' she ses, at last; 'that's wot makes it so tiresome. I can't help a pack of silly young men writing to me, can I?' “'No, I s'pose not,' I ses. “'No, I s'pose not,' I ses. “'Thank you,' she ses, putting 'er little 'and on my arm. 'I knew that you were sensible. I've often watched you when I've been sitting alone on the schooner, longing for somebody to speak to. And I'm a good judge of character. I can read you like a book.' “'Thank you,' she ses, putting 'er little 'and on my arm. 'I knew that you were sensible. I've often watched you when I've been sitting alone on the schooner, longing for somebody to speak to. And I'm a good judge of character. I can read you like a book.' “She turned and looked up at me. Beautiful blue eyes she'd got, with long, curling lashes, and teeth like pearls. “She turned and looked up at me. Beautiful blue eyes she'd got, with long, curling lashes, and teeth like pearls. “'Father is so silly,' she ses, shaking her 'ead and looking down; 'and
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