“So, so,” said the other. “But it ain’t the rheumatism so much what troubles me,” he resumed, lowering his voice, and looking round cautiously. “It’s Kate.” “What?” said the skipper. “You’ve heard of a man being henpecked?” continued Mr. Rumbolt, in tones of husky confidence. The captain nodded. “I’m _chick-pecked_,” murmured the other. “What?” inquired the astonished mariner again. “Chick-pecked,” repeated Mr. Rumbolt firmly. “CHIK-PEKED. D’ye understand me?” The captain said that he did, and stood silent awhile, with the air of a man who wants to say something, but is half afraid to. At last, with a desperate appearance of resolution, he bent down to the old man’s ear. “That’s the deaf ’un,” said Mr. Rumbolt promptly. Hezekiah changed ears, speaking at first slowly and awkwardly, but becoming more fluent as he warmed with his subject; while the expression of his listener’s face gradually changed from incredulous bewilderment to one of uncontrollable mirth. He became so uproarious that he was fain to push the captain away from him, and lean back in his chair and choke and laugh until he nearly lost his breath, at which crisis a remarkably pretty girl appeared from the back of the house, and patted him with hearty good will. “That’ll do, my dear,” said the choking Mr. Rumbolt. “Here’s Captain Lewis.” “I can see him,” said his daughter calmly. “What’s he standing on one leg for?” The skipper, who really was standing in a somewhat constrained attitude, coloured violently, and planted both feet firmly on the ground. “Being as I was passing close in, Miss Rumbolt,” said he, “and coming ashore to see mother”— To the captain’s discomfort, manifestations of a further attack on the part of Mr. Rumbolt appeared, but were promptly quelled by the daughter. “Mother?” she repeated encouragingly, “I thought I’d come on and ask you just to pay a sort o’ flying visit to the _Thames_.” “Thank you, I’m comfortable enough where I am,” said the girl. “I’ve got a couple of monkeys and a bear aboard, which I’m taking to a menagerie in Aberdeen,” continued the captain, “and the thought struck me you might possibly like to see ’em.” “Well, I don’t know,” said the damsel in a flutter. “Is it a big bear?” “Have you ever seen an elephant?” inquired Hezekiah cautiously. “Only in pictures,” replied the girl. “Well, it’s as big as that, nearly,” said he. The temptation was irresistible, and Miss Rumbolt, telling her father that she should not be long, disappeared into the house in search of her hat and jacket, and ten minutes later the brawny rowers were gazing their fill into her deep blue eyes as she sat in the stern of the boat, and told Lewis to behave himself.