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Chalk; "he can talk of nothing else." The captain suppressed a groan, and Mr. Tredgold endeavoured, but without success, to exchange smiles with Miss Drewitt. "Aye, aye," said the captain, desperately. "He's as eager as a child that's going to its first pantomime," continued Mr. Chalk. Mr. Stobell's appearance was so alarming that he broke off and eyed him with growing uneasiness.
Under the tactful guidance of Edward Tredgold the conversation was led to shipwrecks, fires at sea, and other subjects of the kind comforting to the landsman, Mr. Chalk favouring them with a tale of a giant octopus, culled from Captain Bowers's collection, which made Mrs. Stobell's eyes dilate with horror. "You won't see any octopuses," said her husband. "You needn't worry about them."
Another copy was avoided, but only with great difficulty, owing to her criticism of Mr. Stobell's signature. It took the united and verbose efforts of Messrs. Chalk and Tredgold to assure her that it was in his usual style, and rather a good signature for him than otherwise. Miss Vickers, viewing it with her head on one side, asked whether he couldn't make his mark instead; a question which Mr.
"At last, one day, when they were all drunk ashore, we took the map, shipped these natives, and sailed back to the island to rescue the owners. Found they'd gone when we got there. Mr. Stobell's boot and an old pair of braces produced in proof." "Better wrap it up in a piece o' newspaper," said Brisket, stooping and producing the relic in question from under the table.
Captain Brisket regarded him with a beaming smile; Mr. Stobell's two friends waited patiently. "What ud a schooner like that fetch?" inquired Mr. Stobell. "It all depends," said Brisket. "Of course, if I buy " Mr. Stobell held up his hand again. "All depends whether you buy it for us or sell it for the man it belongs to, I s'pose?" he said, slowly. Captain Brisket jumped up, and to Mr.
"I had two prizes for arithmetic when I was at school," she remarked; "and don't you call me Selina, unless you want to be called Bobbie." A sharp exclamation from Mr. Tredgold stopped all but the first three words of Mr. Stobell's retort, but he said the rest under his breath with considerable relish. "Don't mind him," said Miss Vickers. "I'm half sorry I let him join, now.
Chalk, shaking her head, "I am not going alone; if Mrs. Stobell can't come I would sooner stay at home." Mr. Stobell's face cleared; his mouth relaxed and his dull eyes got almost kindly. With the idea of calling the attention of Mr. Chalk to the pleasing results of a little firmness he placed his foot upon that gentleman's toe and bore heavily. "Best place for you," he said to Mrs. Chalk.
Another copy was avoided, but only with great difficulty, owing to her criticism of Mr. Stobell's signature. It took the united and verbose efforts of Messrs. Chalk and Tredgold to assure her that it was in his usual style, and rather a good signature for him than otherwise. Miss Vickers, viewing it with her head on one side, asked whether he couldn't make his mark instead; a question which Mr.
"Yes, sir," said Brisket, with a warning glance at Mr. Stobell, who was grinning broadly. "It's old-fashioned and I've heard it laughed at, but it's a regular good old remedy. Mr. Stobell's laughing at it," he continued, as a gasping noise from that gentleman called for explanation, "but it's true all the same." "What is it?" inquired Mr. Chalk, with feeble impatience.
Stobell's hospitals, widows, and orphans, he pointed out a score of reasons why the captain should consent, and wound up with a glowing picture of Miss Drewitt as the heiress of the wealthiest man in Binchester. The captain heard him patiently to an end and then shook his head. "I passed my word," he said, stiffly. Mr. Stobell took his pipe out of his mouth again to offer a little encouragement.
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