'
"'Clear out!' ses the skipper. 'Clear out! And thank your stars there's
a lady present.'
"'Don't take no notice of 'im, Captain Pratt,' ses the lady. 'He's
beneath you. You only encourage people like that by taking notice of
'em. Good-bye.'
"She held out her 'and, and while the skipper was shaking it I began to
walk back to the wharf. I 'adn't gorn far afore I heard 'im coming up
behind me, and next moment 'e was walking alongside and saying things to
try and make me lose my temper.
"'Ah, it's a pity your pore missis can't 'ear you!' I ses. 'I expect she
thinks you are stowed away in your bunk dreaming of 'er, instead of
saying things about a face as don't belong to you.'
"'You mind your bisness,' he ses, shouting. 'And not so much about my
missis! D'ye hear? Wot's it got to do with you? Who asked you to shove
your oar in?'
"'You're quite mistook,' I ses, very calm. 'I'd no idea that there was
anything on as shouldn't be. I was never more surprised in my life. If
anybody 'ad told me, I shouldn't 'ave believed 'em.
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