“Fire away,” commanded the boatswain. Bassett coughed, and then in a thin but firm voice complied. The list of Miss Jelks’s misdeeds was a long one, and the day was cold, but he did not miss a single item. Miss Jelks, eying him with some concern as he proceeded, began to think he must have eyes at the back of his head. The boatswain, whose colour was deepening as he listened, regarded her with a lurid eye. “And you believe it all,” said Rosa, turning to him with a pitying smile as Bassett concluded his tale. “Why don’t he go on; he ain’t finished yet.” “Wot!” said Mr. Walters with energy. “He ain’t told you about making love to me yet,” said Rosa. “I didn’t,” said the youth. “I shouldn’t think of doing such a thing. It was all a mistake of yours.” Miss Jelks uttered a cruel laugh. “Ask him whether he followed me like a pet dog,” she said turning to the astonished boatswain. “Ask him if he didn’t say he loved the ground my feet trod on. Ask him if he wanted to take me to Marsham Fair and cried because I wouldn’t go.” “Eh?” gasped the boatswain, staring at the bewildered Bassett. “Ask him if he didn’t go down on his knees to me in Pringle’s Lane one day—a muddy day—and ask me to be his,” continued the unscrupulous Rosa. “Ask him if he didn’t say I was throwing myself away on a wooden-headed boatswain with bandy legs.” “Bandy wot?” ejaculated the choking Mr. Walters, as he bestowed an involuntary glower at the limbs in question. “I can assure you I never said so,” said Bassett, earnestly. “I never noticed before that they were bandy. And I never—” An enormous fist held just beneath his nose stopped him in mad career. “If you was only three foot taller and six or seven stone ’eavier,” said the palpitating boatswain, “I should know wot to do with you.” “I assure you—” began Bassett. “If you say another word,” declared Mr. Walters, in grating accents, “I’ll take you by the scruff of your little neck and drop you in the river. And if you tell any more lies about my young woman to a living soul I’ll tear you limb from limb, and box your ears arterwards.” With a warning shake of the head at the gasping Bassett he turned to Miss Jelks, but that injured lady, with her head at an alarming angle, was already moving away. Even when he reached her side she seemed unaware of his existence, and it was not until the afternoon was well advanced that she deigned to take the slightest notice of his abject apologies. “It’s being at sea and away from you that does it,” he said humbly. “And a nasty jealous temper,” added Miss Jelks. “I’m going to try for a shore-berth,” said her admirer. “I spoke to Mr. Vyner—the young one—about it yesterday, and he’s going to see wot he can do for me. If I get that I shall be a different man.” “He’d do anything for Miss Joan,” said the mollified Rosa thoughtfully, “and if you behave yourself and conquer your wicked jealous nature I might put in a word for you with her myself.”