He thinks I'm at 'ome.'
"I think I went back pretty near three yards.
"'I come up by train,' she ses, nodding.
"'Yes,' I ses, very severe, 'and wot about going back by it?'
"'Oh, I shall go back by ship,' she ses. 'Wot time do you expect the
Eastern Monarch up?'
"'Well,' I ses, 'ardly knowing wot to make of 'er, 'she ought to be up
this tide; but there's no reckoning on wot an old washtub with a engine
like a sewing-machine inside 'er will do.'
"'Oh, indeed!' she ses, leaving off smiling very sudden. 'Oh, indeed!
My husband might 'ave something to say about that.'
"'Your 'usband?' I ses.
"'Captain Pratt,' she ses, drawing 'erself up. 'I'm Mrs. Pratt. He left
yesterday morning, and I've come up 'ere by train to give 'im a little
surprise.'
"You might ha' knocked me down with a feather, and I stood there staring
at her with my mouth open, trying to think.
"'Take care,' I ses at last. 'Take care as you don't give 'im too much
of a surprise!'
"'Wot do you mean?' she ses, firing up.
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