Their heads met with a crash, and Miss Nugent forgot her own consternation in the joy of beholding the pitiable exhibition which terror made of Mr.
Wilks.
"I'm very sorry," said Hardy, as he reverently dusted the muff on his coat-sleeve before returning it.

"I'm afraid it was my fault." "It was," said the infuriated captain, as he held the door open for his daughter.

"Now, Kate." Miss Nugent passed through, followed by her father, and escorted to the front door by the steward, whose faint "Good-night" was utterly ignored by his injured commander.

He stood at the door until they had turned the corner, and, returning to the kitchen, found his remaining guest holding his aching head beneath the tap.
[Illustration: "He found his remaining guest holding his aching head beneath the tap."] "And now," said the captain, sternly, to his daughter, "how dare you sit and talk to that young cub?
Eh?
How dare you ?" "He was there when I went in," said his daughter.

"Why didn't you come out, then ?" demanded her father.
"I was afraid of disturbing you and Sam," said Miss Nugent.