"
"Well, I'm hearty glad to see you back," said the mate. "It's quite a
home-coming for you, too. Your missis is down aft."
"My missis? What the devil's she aboard for?" growled the skipper,
successfully controlling his natural gratification at the news.
"She's been with us these last two trips," replied the mate. "She's had
business to settle in London, and she's been going through your lockers
to clear up, like."
"My lockers!" groaned the skipper. "Good heavens! there's things in them
lockers I wouldn't have her see for the world; women are so fussy an' so
fond o' making something out o' nothing. There's a pore female touched a
bit in the upper storey, what's been writing love letters to me,
George."
"Three pore females," said the precise mate; "the missis has got all the
letters tied up with blue ribbon. Very far gone they was, too, poor
creeters."
"George," said the skipper in a broken voice, "I'm a ruined man. I'll
never hear the end o' this. I guess I'll go an' sleep for'ard this
voyage, and lie low. Be keerful you don't let on I'm aboard, an' after
she's home I'll take the ship again, and let the thing leak out gradual.
Come to life bit by bit, so to speak. It wouldn't do to scare her,
George, an' in the meantime I'll try an' think o' some explanation to
tell her.
Pages:
142
143
144
145
146
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
155
156
157
158
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166