"It's all through my girl," said Private Smith meekly; "first she jilted
me, and made me join the army; now she's chucked the other fellow, and
wrote to me to go back."
"An' now I s'pose the other chap'll take your place in the army," said
Joe. "Why, a gal like that could fill a regiment, if she liked. Pah!
They'll nab you too, in that uniform, and you'll get six months, and
have to finish your time as well."
"It's more than likely," said the soldier gloomily. "I've got to tramp
to Manchester in these clothes, as far as I can see."
"What did you give old Dan all your money for?" inquired Joe.
"I was only thinking of getting away at first," said Smith, "and I had
to take what was offered."
"Well, I'll do what I can for you," said the seaman. "If you're in love,
you ain't responsible for your actions. I remember the first time I got
the chuck. I went into a public-house bar, and smashed all the glass and
bottles I could get at. I felt as though I must do something. If you
were only shorter, I'd lend you some clothes."
"You're a brick," said the soldier gratefully.
"I haven't got any money I could lend you either," said Joe. "I never do
have any, somehow. But clothes you must have."
He fell into deep thought, and cocked his eye aloft as though
contemplating a cutting-out expedition on the sails, while the soldier,
sitting on the side of the ship, waited hopefully for a miracle.
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