That's my life nowadays." "Can't you let her see that her attentions are undesirable ?" inquired Hardy, gravely.
"Can't you let her see that her attentions are undesirable ?" [Illustration: "'Can't you let her see that her attentions are undesirable ?'"] "I can't be rude to a woman," said the steward, with a melancholy smile; "if I could, my life would ha' been very different.

She's always stepping across to ask my advice about Teddy, or something o' that sort.
All last week she kept borrowing my frying-pan, so at last by way of letting 'er see I didn't like it I went out and bought 'er one for herself.

What's the result?
Instead o' being offended she went out and bought me a couple o' neck-ties.

When I didn't wear 'em she pretended it was because I didn't like the colour, and she went and bought two more.
I'm wearing one now." He shook his head ruefully, and Hardy glanced at a tie which would have paled the glories of a rainbow.

For some time they walked along in silence.
"I'm going to pay my respects to Cap'n Nugent this afternoon," said Mr.
Wilks, suddenly.
"Ah," said the other.
"I knew what it 'ud be with them two on the same ship," continued Mr.
Wilks.