"No warning?" quoth he. "Why, haven't you been at me every day for the last dozen years to do it? And quite right too. It's bad for boys to grow up without a father to look after them, and their welfare is of more importance than anything else." "You say that, and at the same time take away all chance of their having a decent education and a fair start in the world! How am I to keep them at the Grammar School, and have a governess for the girls, and support the house and all, on my poor three hundred a year?" I should not have said it, and could have cut my tongue out before the words were half uttered, but somehow the first news of the shock that we were to lose half our income, on which we already found it no easy matter to make ends meet, was overwhelming. And we were so accustomed to speak freely whatever was in our minds that I never anticipated he would take a chance remark so ill. I suppose his interview with the owners had agitated him; as I heard afterwards, the whole office had expressed regrets at his leaving the service, and said all kinds of nice and flattering things about him; otherwise I am sure he would not have given way as he did. He just turned from me, put his arms on the mantelpiece, and, dropping his head down, gave a sob under his breath. My own good husband! That ever I should have been the cause--however innocently--of bringing a tear to his dear eyes, a moment's pang to his faithful heart! Of course he forgave me at once--he always does; and in a few minutes we were talking things over in peace and comfort, while I sat on his knee--for the children were in school, happily. "As for income, Polly, you don't suppose I am going to live on you?" he said--and a very unkind thing it was to say, as I told him. "You don't imagine I intend to sit at home and twiddle my thumbs, while you take the whole burden on your little shoulders--do you?" "I don't see why you shouldn't," I replied. "At any rate for a long while to come. I'm sure if any one ever earned the right to a thorough rest, you have. And, oh, Tom, no burden can be a burden with you here to help me!" "Thanks, old girl. That's good hearing." "As if you wanted to be told that! And by and by, when you have had a nice long spell, there are sure to be posts offered to you about the ports----" "No, Polly; don't delude yourself with that idea. There are no posts for a sailor who leaves sea--that is, one or two, perhaps, and a hundred fellows wanting them. I should be no good at office work, among the smart hands, and the life would kill me. No, I've a better notion than that--it's been in my mind a long time, and I've been talking it over with experts, men who thoroughly understand the matter----" "And not with me!" I interposed reproachfully.