The Arctic expedition is to blame, my dear lady--not the captain--for parting man and wife.

In Crayford's place, I should have left it to the bachelors to find the Northwest Passage, and have stopped at home with you!" Excusing himself in those bluntly complimentary terms, Captain Helding drew the lieutenant aside a few steps, accidentally taking a direction that led the two officers close to the place at which Clara was standing.

Both the captain and the lieutenant were too completely absorbed in their professional business to notice her.

Neither the one nor the other had the faintest suspicion that she could and did hear every word of the talk that passed between them.
"You received my note this morning ?" the captain began.
"Certainly, Captain Helding, or I should have been on board the ship before this." "I am going on board myself at once," the captain proceeded, "but I must ask you to keep your boat waiting for half an hour more.

You will be all the longer with your wife, you know.