The captain's brows were bent in thought, and Mr.Tasker, reminding himself that crews had trembled at his nod and that all were silent when he spoke, felt a flutter of hope.
"Well," said the captain, sharply, as he turned and caught sight of him, "what are you waiting there for ?" Mr.Tasker drifted towards the door which led upstairs.
"I--I thought you were thinking of something we could do to prevent her coming, sir," he said, slowly.

"It's hard on me, because as a matter of fact----" "Well ?" said the captain.
"I--I've 'ad my eye on another young lady for some time," concluded Mr.
Tasker.
He was standing on the bottom stair as he spoke, with his hand on the latch.

Under the baleful stare with which the indignant captain favoured him, he closed it softly and mounted heavily to bed..