第2章

"Morning，sir！"saidCaptainJorgan。"Howdoyoudo？"

"ThegentlemanIamgoingawaywith，"saidtheyoungfishermantoTregarthen。

"O！"returnedKitty’sfather，surveyingtheunfortunatecaptainwithalookofextremedisfavour。"IconfessthatIcan’tsayIamgladtoseeyou。"

"No，"saidthecaptain，"and，toadmitthetruth，thatseemstobethegeneralopinionintheseparts。Butdon’tbehasty；youmaythinkbetterofmeby—and—by。"

"Ihopeso，"observedTregarthen。

"Wa’al，Ihopeso，"observedthecaptain，quiteathisease；"morethanthat，Ibelieveso，——thoughyoudon’t。Now，Mr。Tregarthen，youdon’twanttoexchangewordsofmistrustwithme；andifyoudid，youcouldn’t，becauseIwouldn’t。YouandIareoldenoughtoknowbetterthantojudgeagainstexperiencefromsurfacesandappearances；andifyouhaven’tlivedtofindouttheevilandinjusticeofsuchjudgments，youarealuckyman。"

Theotherseemedtoshrinkunderthisremark，andreplied，"Sir，I

havelivedtofeelitdeeply。"

"Wa’al，"saidthecaptain，mollified，"thenI’vemadeagoodcastwithoutknowingit。Now，Tregarthen，therestandstheloverofyouronlychild，andherestandIwhoknowhissecret。Iwarrantitarighteoussecret，andnoneofhismaking，thoughboundtobeofhiskeeping。Iwanttohelphimoutwithit，andtewwardsthatendweaskyoutofavouruswiththenamesoftwoorthreeoldresidentsinthevillageofLanrean。AsIamtakingoutmypocket—bookandpenciltoputthenamesdown，Imayaswellobservetoyouthatthis，wroteatopofthefirstpagehere，ismynameandaddress：

’SilasJonasJorgan，Salem，Massachusetts，UnitedStates。’Ifeveryoutakeitinyourheadtorunoveranymorning，Ishallbegladtowelcomeyou。Now，whatmaybethespellingofthesesaidnames？"

"Therewasanelderlyman，"saidTregarthen，"namedDavidPolreath。

Hemaybedead。"

"Wa’al，"saidthecaptain，cheerfully，"ifPolreath’sdeadandburied，andcanbemadeofanyservicetous，Polreathwon’tobjecttoourdiggingofhimup。Polreath’sdown，anyhow。"

"TherewasanothernamedPenrewen。Idon’tknowhisChristianname。"

"NevermindhisChris’enname，"saidthecaptain；"Penrewen，forshort。"

"TherewasanothernamedJohnTredgear。"

"Andapleasant—soundingname，too，"saidthecaptain；"JohnTredgear’sbooked。"

"IcanrecallnootherexceptoldParvis。"

"OneofoldParvis’sfam’lyIreckon，"saidthecaptain，"keptadry—goodsstoreinNewYorkcity，andrealisedahandsomecompetencybyburninghishousetoashes。Samename，anyhow。DavidPolreath，Unchris’enPenrewen，JohnTredgear，andoldArsonParvis。"

"Icannotrecallanyothersatthemoment。"

"Thank’ee，"saidthecaptain。"Andso，Tregarthen，hopingforyourgoodopinionyet，andlikewiseforthefairDevonshireFlower’s，yourdaughter’s，Igiveyoumyhand，sir，andwishyougoodday。"

YoungRaybrockaccompaniedhimdisconsolately；fortherewasnoKittyatthewindowwhenhelookedup，noKittyinthegardenwhenheshutthegate，noKittygazingafterthemalongthestonywayswhentheybegintoclimbback。

"NowItellyouwhat，"saidthecaptain。"Notbeingatpresentcalculatedtopromoteharmonyinyourfamily，Iwon’tcomein。Yougoandgetyourdinnerathome，andI’llgetmineatthelittlehotel。Letourhourofmeetingbetwoo’clock，andyou’llfindmesmokingacigarinthesunaforethehoteldoor。TellTomPettifer，mysteward，toconsiderhimselfonduty，andtolookafteryourpeopletillwecomeback；you’llfindhe’llhavemadehimselfusefulto’emalready，andwillbequiteacceptable。"

AllwasdoneasCaptainJorgandirected。Punctuallyattwoo’clocktheyoungfishermanappearedwithhisknapsackathisback；andpunctuallyattwoo’clockthecaptainjerkedawaythelastfeather—

endofhiscigar。

"Letmecarryyourbaggage，CaptainJorgan；Icaneasilytakeitwithmine。"

"Thank’ee，"saidthecaptain。"I’llcarryitmyself。It’sonlyacomb。"

Theyclimbedoutofthevillage，andpausedamongthetreesandfernonthesummitofthehillabove，totakebreath，andtolookdownatthebeautifulsea。Suddenlythecaptaingavehislegaresoundingslap，andcried，"Neverknewsucharightthinginallmylife！"——

andranaway。

ThecauseofthisabruptretirementonthepartofthecaptainwaslittleKittyamongthetrees。Thecaptainwentoutofsightandwaited，andkeptoutofsightandwaited，untilitoccurredtohimtobeguilethetimewithanothercigar。Helightedit，andsmokeditout，andstillhewasoutofsightandwaiting。Hestolewithinsightatlast，andsawthelovers，withtheirarmsentwinedandtheirbentheadstouching，movingslowlyamongthetrees。Itwasthegoldentimeoftheafternoonthen，andthecaptainsaidtohimself，"Goldensun，goldensea，goldensails，goldenleaves，goldenlove，goldenyouth，——agoldenstateofthingsaltogether！"

Neverthelessthecaptainfounditnecessarytohailhisyoungcompanionbeforegoingoutofsightagain。Inafewmomentsmorehecameupandtheybegantheirjourney。

"Thatstillyoungwomanwiththefatherlesschild，"saidCaptainJorgan，astheyfellintostep，"didn’tthrowherwordsaway；butgoodhonestwordsareneverthrownaway。AndnowthatIamconveyingyouofffromthattenderlittlethingthatloves，andrelies，andhopes，IfeeljustasifIwasthesnarlingcritturinthepicters，withthetightlegs，thelongnose，andthefeatherinhiscap，thetipsofwhosemoustachesgetupnearertohiseyesthewickederhegets。"

TheyoungfishermanknewnothingofMephistopheles；buthesmiledwhenthecaptainstoppedtodoublehimselfupandslaphisleg，andtheywentalonginrightgoodfellowship。

CHAPTERV{1}——THERESTITUTION

CaptainJorgan，upandoutbetimes，hadputthewholevillageofLanreanunderanamicablecross—examination，andwasreturningtotheKingArthur’sArmstobreakfast，nonethewiserforhistrouble，whenhebeheldtheyoungfishermanadvancingtomeethim，accompaniedbyastranger。AglanceatthisstrangerassuredthecaptainthathecouldbenootherthantheSeafaringMan；andthecaptainwasabouttohailhimasafellow—craftsman，whenthetwostoodstillandsilentbeforethecaptain，andthecaptainstoodstill，silent，andwonderingbeforethem。

"Why，what’sthis？"criedthecaptain，whenatlasthebrokethesilence。"Youtwoarealike。Youtwoaremuchalike。What’sthis？"

Notawordwasansweredontheotherside，untilafterthesea—

faringbrotherhadgotholdofthecaptain’srighthand，andthefishermanbrotherhadgotholdofthecaptain’slefthand；andifeverthecaptainhadhadhisfillofhand—shaking，fromhisbirthtothathour，hehaditthen。Andpresentlyupandspokethetwobrothers，oneatatime，twoatatime，twodozenatatimeforthebewildermentintowhichtheyplungedthecaptain，untilhegraduallyhadHughRaybrock’sdeliverancemadecleartohim，andalsounravelledthefactthatthepersonreferredtointhehalf—

obliteratedpaperwasTregarthenhimself。

"Formerly，dearCaptainJorgan，"saidAlfred，"ofLanrean，yourecollect？KittyandherfathercametoliveatSteepwaysafterHughshippedonhislastvoyage。"

"Ay，ay！"criedthecaptain，fetchingabreath。"Nowyouhavemeintow。Thenyourbrotherheredon’tknowhissister—in—lawthatistobesomuchasbyname？"

"Neversawher；neverheardofher！"

"Ay，ay，ay！"criedthecaptain。"Whythenweeveryonegobacktogether——paper，writer，andall——andtakeTregarthenintothesecretwekeptfromhim？"

"Surely，"saidAlfred，"wecan’thelpitnow。Wemustgothroughwithourduty。"

"Notadoubt，"returnedthecaptain。"Givemeanarmapiece，andletussetthisship—shape。"

Sowalkingupanddownintheshrillwindonthewildmoor，whiletheneglectedbreakfastcooledwithin，thecaptainandthebrotherssettledtheircourseofaction。

ItwasthattheyshouldallproceedbythequickestmeanstheycouldsecuretoBarnstaple，andtherelookoverthefather’sbooksandpapersinthelawyer’skeeping；asHughhadproposedtohimselftodoifeverhereachedhome。That，enlightenedorunenlightened，theyshouldthenreturntoSteepwaysandgostraighttoMr。

Tregarthen，andtellhimalltheyknew，andseewhatcameofit，andactaccordingly。Lastly，thatwhentheygottheretheyshouldenterthevillagewithallprecautionsagainstHugh’sbeingrecognisedbyanychance；andthattothecaptainshouldbeconsignedthetaskofpreparinghiswifeandmotherforhisrestorationtothislife。

"Foryousee，"quothCaptainJorgan，touchingthelasthead，"itrequirescautionanyway，greatjoysbeingasdangerousasgreatgriefs，ifnotmoredangerous，asbeingmoreuncommon（andthereforelessprovidedagainst）inthisroundworldofours。Andbesides，I

shouldliketofreemynamewiththeladies，andtakeyouhomeagainatyourbrightestandluckiest；sodon’tlet’sthrowawayachanceofsuccess。"

Thecaptainwashighlylaudedbythebrothersforhiskindinterestandforesight。

"Andnowstop！"saidthecaptain，comingtoastandstill，andlookingfromonebrothertotheother，withquiteanewriggingofwrinklesabouteacheye；"youareofopinion，"totheelder，"thatyouarera’atherslow？"

"IassureyouIamveryslow，"saidthehonestHugh。

"Wa’al，"repliedthecaptain，"IassureyouthattothebestofmybeliefIamra’athersmart。Nowaslowmanain’tgoodatquickbusiness，ishe？"

Thatwascleartoboth。

"You，"saidthecaptain，turningtotheyoungerbrother，"arealittleinlove；ain’tyou？"

"Notalittle，CaptainJorgan。"

"Muchorlittle，you’resortpreoccupied；ain’tyou？"

Itwasimpossibletobedenied。

"Andasortpreoccupiedmanain’tgoodatquickbusiness，ishe？"

saidthecaptain。

Equallyclearonallsides。

"Now，"saidthecaptain，"Iain’tinlovemyself，andI’vemademanyasmartrunacrosstheocean，andIshouldliketocarryonandgoaheadwiththisaffairofyours，andmakearunslickthroughit。

ShallItry？Willyouhanditovertome？"

Theywerebothdelightedtodoso，andthankedhimheartily。

"Good，"saidthecaptain，takingouthiswatch。"Thisishalf—pasteighta。m。，Fridaymorning。I’lljotthatdown，andwe’llcomputehowmanyhourswe’vebeenoutwhenwerunintoyourmother’spost—

office。There！Theentry’smade，andnowwegoahead。"

TheywentaheadsowellthatbeforetheBarnstaplelawyer’sofficewasopennextmorning，thecaptainwassittingwhistlingonthestepofthedoor，waitingfortheclerktocomedownthestreetwithhiskeyandopenit。Butinsteadoftheclerktherecamethemaster，withwhomthecaptainfraternisedonthespottoanextentthatutterlyconfoundedhim。

AshepersonallyknewbothHughandAlfred，therewasnodifficultyinobtainingimmediateaccesstosuchofthefather’spapersaswereinhiskeeping。Thesewerechieflyoldlettersandcashaccounts；

fromwhichthecaptain，withashrewdnessanddespatchthatleftthelawyerfarbehind，establishedwithperfectclearness，bynoon，thefollowingparticulars：—

ThatoneLawrenceClissoldhadborrowedofthedeceased，atatimewhenhewasathrivingyoungtradesmaninthetownofBarnstaple，thesumoffivehundredpounds。Thathehadborroweditonthewrittenstatementthatitwastobelaidoutinfurtheranceofaspeculationwhichheexpectedwouldraisehimtoindependence；hebeing，atthetimeofwritingthatletter，nomorethanaclerkinthehouseofDringworthBrothers，AmericaSquare，London。Thatthemoneywasborrowedforastipulatedperiod；butthat，whenthetermwasout，theaforesaidspeculationfailed，andClissoldwaswithoutmeansofrepayment。That，hereupon，hehadwrittentohiscreditor，innoverypersuasiveterms，vaguelyrequestingfurthertime。Thatthecreditorhadrefusedthisconcession，declaringthathecouldnotafforddelay。ThatClissoldthenpaidthedebt，accompanyingtheremittanceofthemoneywithanangryletterdescribingitashavingbeenadvancedbyarelativetosavehimfromruin。That，inacknowlodgingthereceipt，RaybrockhadcautionedClissoldtoseektoborrowmoneyofhimnomore，ashewouldneversoriskmoneyagain。

Beforethelawyerthecaptainsaidneverawordinreferencetothesediscoveries。Butwhenthepapershadbeenputbackintheirbox，andheandhistwocompanionswerewelloutoftheoffice，hisrightlegsufferedforit，andhesaid，—

"Sofarthisrun’sbegunwithafairwindandaprosperous；fordon’tyouseethatallthisagreeswiththatdutifultrustinhisfathermaintainedbytheslowmemberoftheRaybrockfamily？"

Whetherthebrothershadseenitbeforeorno，theysawitnow。Notthatthecaptaingavethemmuchtimetocontemplatethestateofthingsattheirease，forheinstantlywhippedthemintoachaiseagain，andborethemofftoSteepways。Althoughtheafternoonwasbutjustbeginningtodeclinewhentheyreachedit，anditwasbroadday—light，stilltheyhadnodifficulty，bydintofmuffingthereturnedsailorup，andascendingthevillageratherthandescendingit，inreachingTregarthen’scottageunobserved。Kittywasnotvisible，andtheysurprisedTregarthensittingwritinginthesmallbay—windowofhislittleroom。

"Sir，"saidthecaptain，instantlyshakinghandswithhim，penandall，"I’mgladtoseeyou，sir。Howdoyoudo，sir？Itoldyouyou’dthinkbetterofmeby—and—by，andIcongratulateyouongoingtodoit。"

Herethecaptain’seyefellonTomPettiferHo，engagedinpreparingsomecookeryatthefire。

"Thatcritter，"saidthecaptain，smitinghisleg，"isabornsteward，andneveroughttohavebeeninanyotherwayoflife。

Stopwhereyouare，Tom，andmakeyourselfuseful。Now，Tregarthen，I’mgoingtotryachair。"

Accordinglythecaptaindrewoneclosetohim，andwenton：—

"ThislovingmemberoftheRaybrockfamilyyouknow，sir。Thisslowmemberofthesamefamilyyoudon’tknow，sir。Wa’al，thesetwoarebrothers，——fact！Hugh’scometolifeagain，andherehestands。

Nowseehere，myfriend！Youdon’twanttobetoldthathewascastaway，butyoudowanttobetold（forthere’sapurposeinit）thathewascastawaywithanotherman。ThatmanbynamewasLawrenceClissold。"

AtthementionofthisnameTregarthenstartedandchangedcolour。

"What’sthematter？"saidthecaptain。

"Hewasafellow—clerkofminethirty——five—and—thirty——yearsago。"

"True，"saidthecaptain，immediatelycatchingattheclew：

"DringworthBrothers，AmericaSquare，LondonCity。"

Theotherstartedagain，nodded，andsaid，"Thatwasthehouse。"

"Now，"pursuedthecaptain，"betweenthosetwomencastawaytherearoseamysteryconcerningtheroundsumoffivehundredpound。"

AgainTregarthenstarted，changingcolour。Againthecaptainsaid，"What’sthematter？"

AsTregarthenonlyanswered，"Pleasetogoon，"thecaptainrecounted，veryterselyandplainly，thenatureofClissold’swanderingsonthebarrenisland，ashehadcondensedtheminhismindfromtheseafaringman。Tregarthenbecamegreatlyagitatedduringthisrecital，andatlengthexclaimed，—

"Clissoldwasthemanwhoruinedme！Ihavesuspecteditformanyalongyear，andnowIknowit。"

"Andhow，"saidthecaptain，drawinghischairstillclosertoTregarthen，andclappinghishanduponhisshoulder，——"howmayyouknowit？"

"Whenwewerefellow—clerks，"repliedTregarthen，"inthatLondonhouse，itwasoneofmydutiestoenterdailyinacertainbookanaccountofthesumsreceivedthatdaybythefirm，andafterwardpaidintothebankers’。Onememorableday，——aWednesday，theblackdayofmylife，——amongthesumsIsoenteredwasoneoffivehundredpounds。"

"Ibegintomakeitout，"saidthecaptain。"Yes？"

"ItwasoneofClissold’sdutiestocopyfromthisentryamemorandumofthesumswhichtheclerkemployedtogotothebankers’paidinthere。ItwasmydutytohandthemoneytoClissold；itwasClissold’stohandittotheclerk，withthatmemorandumofhiswriting。OnthatWednesdayIenteredasumoffivehundredpoundsreceived。Ihandedthatsum，asIhandedtheothersumsintheday’sentry，toClissold。Iwasabsolutelycertainofitatthetime；Ihavebeenabsolutelycertainofiteversince。Asumoffivehundredpoundswasafterwardfoundbythehousetohavebeenthatdaywantingfromthebag，fromClissold’smemorandum，andfromtheentriesinmybook。Clissold，beingquestioned，stooduponhisperfectclearnessinthematter，andemphaticallydeclaredthatheaskednobetterthantobetestedby’Tregarthen’sbook。’Mybookwasexamined，andtheentryoffivehundredpoundswasnotthere。"

"Hownotthere，"saidthecaptain，"whenyoumadeityourself？"

Tregarthencontinued：—

"Iwasthenquestioned。HadImadetheentry？CertainlyIhad。

Thehouseproducedmybook，anditwasnotthere。Icouldnotdenymybook；Icouldnotdenymywriting。Iknewtheremustbeforgerybysomeone；butthewritingwaswonderfullylikemine，andIcouldimpeachnooneifthehousecouldnot。Iwasrequiredtopaythemoneyback。Ididso；andIleftthehouse，almostbroken—hearted，ratherthanremainthere，——evenifIcouldhavedoneso，——withadarkshadowofsuspicionalwaysonme。Ireturnedtomynativeplace，Lanrean，andremainedthere，clerktoamine，untilIwasappointedtomylittleposthere。"

"Iwellremember，"saidthecaptain，"thatItoldyouthatifyouhadnoexperienceofilljudgmentsondeceivingappearances，youwerealuckyman。Youwenthurtatthat，andIseewhy。I’msorry。"

"Thusitis，"saidTregarthen。"OfmyowninnocenceIhaveofcoursebeensure；ithasbeenatoncemycomfortandmytrial。OfClissoldIhavealwayshadsuspicionsalmostamountingtocertainty；

buttheyhaveneverbeenconfirmeduntilnow。Formydaughter’ssakeandformyownIhavecarriedthissubjectinmyownheart，astheonlysecretofmylife，andhavelongbelievedthatitwoulddiewithme。"

"Wa’al，mygoodsir，"saidthecaptaincordially，"thepresentquestionis，andwillbelong，Ihope，concerningliving，andnotdying。Now，hereareourtwohonestfriends，thelovingRaybrockandtheslow。Heretheystand，agreedononepoint，onwhichI’dback’emroundtheworld，andrightacrossitfromnorthtosouth，andthenagainfromeasttowest，andthroughit，fromyourdeepestCornishminetoChina。Itis，thattheywillneverusethissameso—often—mentionedsumofmoney，andthatrestitutionofitmustbemadetoyou。Thesetwo，thelovingmemberandtheslow，forthesakeoftherightandoftheirfather’smemory，willhaveitreadyforyouto—morrow。Takeit，andeasetheirmindsandmine，andendamostunfortunatetransaction。"

Tregarthentookthecaptainbythehand，andgavehishandtoeachoftheyoungmen，butpositivelyandfinallyansweredNo。Hesaid，theytrustedtohisword，andhewasgladofit，andatrestinhismind；buttherewasnoproof，andthemoneymustremainasitwas。

Allwereveryearnestoverthis；andearnestnessinmen，whentheyarerightandtrue，issoimpressive，thatMr。Pettiferdesertedhiscookeryandlookedonquitemoved。

"Andso，"saidthecaptain，"sowecome——asthatlawyer—critturoveryonderwherewewerethismorningmight——tomereproof；dowe？Wemusthaveit；mustwe？How？FromthisClissold’swanderings，andfromwhatyousay，itain’thardtomakeoutthattherewasaneatforgeryofyourwritingcommittedbythetoosmartrowdythatwasgreaseandasheswhenImadehisacquaintance，andasubstitutionofaforgedleafinyourbookforarealandtornleaftornout。Nowwasthatrealandtrueleafthenandtheredestroyed？No，——forsayshe，inhisdrunkenway，heslippeditintoacrackinhisowndesk，becauseyoucameintotheofficebeforetherewastimetoburnit，andcouldnevergetbacktoitarterwards。Waitabit。Whereisthatdesknow？DoyouconsideritlikelytobeinAmericaSquare，LondonCity？"

Tregarthenshookhishead。

"Thehousehasnot，foryears，transactedbusinessinthatplace。I

haveheardofit，andreadofit，asremoved，enlarged，everywayaltered。Thingsaltersofastinthesetimes。"

"Youthinkso，"returnedthecaptain，withcompassion；"butyoushouldcomeoverandseemeaforeyoutalkaboutthat。Wa’al，now。

Thisdesk，thispaper，——thispaper，thisdesk，"saidthecaptain，ruminatingandwalkingabout，andlooking，inhisuneasyabstraction，intoMr。Pettifer’shatonatable，amongotherthings。

"Thisdesk，thispaper，——thispaper，thisdesk，"thecaptaincontinued，musingandroamingabouttheroom，"I’dgive——"

However，hegavenothing，buttookuphissteward’shatinstead，andstoodlookingintoit，asifhehadjustcomeintochurch。Afterthatheroamedagain，andagainsaid，"Thisdesk，belongingtothishouseofDringworthBrothers，AmericaSquare，LondonCity——"

Mr。Pettifer，stillstrangelymoved，andnowmoremovedthanbefore，cutthecaptainoffashebackedacrosstheroom，andbespakehimthus：—

"CaptainJorgan，Ihavebeenwishfultoengageyourattention，butI

couldn’tdoit。IamunwillingtointerruptCaptainJorgan，butI

mustdoit。Iknewsomethingaboutthathouse。"

Thecaptainstoodstock—stillandlookedathim，——withhis（Mr。

Pettifer’s）hatunderhisarm。

"You’reaware，"pursuedhissteward，"thatIwasonceinthebrokingbusiness，CaptainJorgan？"

"Iwasaware，"saidthecaptain，"thatyouhadfailedinthatcalling，andinhalfthebusinessesgoing，Tom。"

"Notquiteso，CaptainJorgan；butIfailedinthebrokingbusiness。

Iwaspartnerswithmybrother，sir。TherewasasaleofoldofficefurnitureatDringworthBrothers’whenthehousewasmovedfromAmericaSquare，andmeandmybrothermadewhatwecallinthetradeaDealthere，sir。AndI’llmakeboldtosay，sir，thattheonlythingIeverhadfrommybrother，orfromanyrelation，——formyrelationshavemostlytakenpropertyfrommeinsteadofgivingmeany，——wasanolddeskweboughtatthatsamesale，withacrackinit。Mybrotherwouldn’thavegivenmeeventhat，whenwebrokepartnership，ifithadbeenworthanything。"

"Whereisthatdesknow？"saidthecaptain。

"Well，CaptainJorgan，"repliedthesteward，"Icouldn’tsayforcertainwhereitisnow；butwhenIsawitlast，——whichwaslasttimewewereoutwardbound，——itwasataverynicelady’satWapping，alongwithalittlechestofminewhichwasdetainedforasmallmatterofabillowing。"

Thecaptain，insteadofpayingthatraptattentiontohisstewardwhichwasrenderedbytheotherthreepersonspresent，wenttoChurchagain，inrespectofthesteward’shat。Andamostespeciallyagitatedandmemorablefacethecaptainproducedfromit，afterashortpause。

"Now，Tom，"saidthecaptain，"Ispoketoyou，whenwefirstcamehere，respectingyourconstitutionalweaknessonthesubjectofsunstroke。"

"Youdid，sir。"

"Willmyslowfriend，"saidthecaptain，"lendmehisarm，orI

shallsinkrightback’ardsintothisblessedsteward’scookery？

Now，Tom，"pursuedthecaptain，whentherequiredassistancewasgiven，"onyouroathasasteward，didn’tyoutakethatdesktopiecestomakeabetteroneofit，andputittogetherfresh，——orsomethingofthekind？"

"OnmyoathIdid，sir，"repliedthesteward。

"AndbytheblessingofHeaven，myfriends，oneandall，"criedthecaptain，radiantwithjoy，——"oftheHeaventhatputitintothisTomPettifer’sheadtotakesomuchcareofhisheadagainstthebrightsun，——helinedhishatwiththeoriginalleafinTregarthen’swriting，——andhereitis！"

Withthatthecaptain，totheutterdestructionofMr。Pettifer’sfavouritehat，producedthebook—leaf，verymuchworn，butstilllegible，andgavebothhislegssuchtremendousslapsthattheywereheardfaroffinthebay，andneveraccountedfor。

"Aquarterpastfivep。m。，"saidthecaptain，pullingouthiswatch，"andthat’sthirty—threehoursandaquarterinall，andaprittyrun！"

Howtheywerealloverpoweredwithdelightandtriumph；howthemoneywasrestored，thenandthere，toTregarthen；howTregarthen，thenandthere，gaveitalltohisdaughter；howthecaptainundertooktogotoDringworthBrothersandre—establishthereputationoftheirforgottenoldclerk；howKittycamein，andwasnearlytorntopieces，andthemarriagewasreappointed，needsnottobetold。Norhowsheandtheyoungfishermanwenthometothepost—officetopreparethewayforthecaptain’scoming，bydeclaringhimtobethemightiestofmen，whohadmadealltheirfortunes，——andthendutifullywithdrewtogether，inorderthathemighthavethedomesticcoastentirelytohimself。Howheavailedhimselfofitisallthatremainstotell。

Deeplydelightedwithhistrust，andputtinghisheartintoit，heraisedthelatchofthepost—officeparlourwhereMrs。Raybrockandtheyoungwidowsat，andsaid，—

"MayIcomein？"

"Sureyoumay，CaptainJorgan！"repliedtheoldlady。"Andgoodreasonyouhavetobefreeofthehouse，thoughyouhavenotbeentoowellusedinitbysomewhooughttohaveknownbetter。Iaskyourpardon。"

"Noyoudon’t，ma’am，"saidthecaptain，"forIwon’tletyou。

Wa’al，tobesure！"

Bythistimehehadtakenachaironthehearthbetweenthem。

"Neverfeltsuchanevilspiritinthewholecourseofmylife！

There！Itellyou！Icoulda’mosthavecutmyownconnection。

Likethedealerinmycountry，awayWest，whowhenhehadlethimselfbeoutdoneinabargain，saidtohimself，’NowItellyouwhat！I’llneverspeaktoyouagain。’Andheneverdid，butjoinedasettlementofoysters，andtranslatedthemultiplicationtableintotheirlanguage，——whichisafactthatcanbeproved。Ifyoudoubtit，mentionittoanyoysteryoucomeacross，andseeifhe’llhavethefacetocontradictit。"

Hetookthechildfromhermother’slapandsetitonhisknee。

"Notabitafraidofmenow，yousee。KnowsIamfondofsmallpeople。Ihaveachild，andshe’sagirl，andIsingtohersometimes。"

"Whatdoyousing？"askedMargaret。

"Notalongsong，mydear。

SilasJorganPlayedtheorgan。

That’saboutall。AndsometimesItellherstories，——storiesofsailorssupposedtobelost，andrecoveredafterallhopewasabandoned。"Herethecaptainmusinglywentbacktohissong，—

SilasJorganPlayedtheorgan；

repeatingitwithhiseyesonthefire，ashesoftlydancedthechildonhisknee。ForhefeltthatMargarethadstoppedworking。

"Yes，"saidthecaptain，stilllookingatthefire，"Imakeupstoriesandtell’emtothatchild。Storiesofshipwreckondesertislands，andlongdelayingettingbacktocivilisedlauds。Itistostoriesthelikeofthat，mostly，thatSilasJorganPlaystheorgan。"

Therewasnolightintheroombutthelightofthefire；fortheshadesofnightwereonthevillage，andthestarshadbeguntopeepoutoftheskyonebyone，asthehousesofthevillagepeepedoutfromamongthefoliagewhenthenightdeparted。ThecaptainfeltthatMargaret’seyeswereuponhim，andthoughtitdiscreetesttokeephisowneyesonthefire。

"Yes；Imake’emup，"saidthecaptain。"ImakeupstoriesofbrothersbroughttogetherbythegoodprovidenceofGOD，——ofsonsbroughtbacktomothers，husbandsbroughtbacktowives，fathersraisedfromthedeep，forlittlechildrenlikeherself。"

Margaret’stouchwasonhisarm，andhecouldnotchoosebutlookroundnow。Nextmomentherhandmovedimploringlytohisbreast，andshewasonherkneesbeforehim，——supportingthemother，whowasalsokneeling。

"What’sthematter？"saidthecaptain。"What’sthematter？

SilasJorganPlayedthe—

Theirlooksandtearsweretoomuchforhim，andhecouldnotfinishthesong，shortasitwas。

"MistressMargaret，youhaveborneillfortunewell。Couldyoubeargoodfortuneequallywell，ifitwastocome？"

"Ihopeso。Ithankfullyandhumblyandearnestlyhopeso！"

"Wa’al，mydear，"saidthecaptain，"p’rhapsithascome。He’s——

don’tbefrightened——shallIsaytheword——"

"Alive？"

"Yes！"

ThethankstheyferventlyaddressedtoHeavenwereagaintoomuchforthecaptain，whoopenlytookouthishandkerchiefanddriedhiseyes。

"He’snofurtheroff，"resumedthecaptain，"thanmycountry。

Indeed，he’snofurtheroffthanhisownnativecountry。Totellyouthetruth，he’snofurtheroffthanFalmouth。Indeed，Idoubtifhe’squitesofur。Indeed，ifyouwassureyoucouldbearitnicely，andIwastodonomorethanwhistleforhim——"

Thecaptain’strustwasdischarged。Arushcame，andtheywerealltogetheragain。

ThiswasafineopportunityforTomPettifertoappearwithatumblerofcoldwater，andhepresentlyappearedwithit，andadministeredittotheladies；atthesametimesoothingthem，andcomposingtheirdresses，exactlyasiftheyhadbeenpassengerscrossingtheChannel。Theextenttowhichthecaptainslappedhislegs，whenMr。Pettiferacquittedhimselfofthisactofstewardship，couldhavebeenthoroughlyappreciatedbynoonebuthimself；inasmuchashemusthaveslappedthemblackandblue，andtheymusthavesmartedtremendously。

Hecouldn’tstayforthewedding，havingafewappointmentstokeepattheirreconcilabledistanceofaboutfourthousandmiles。Sonextmorningallthevillagecheeredhimuptothelevelgroundabove，andthereheshookhandswithacompleteCensusofitspopulation，andinvitedthewhole，withoutexception，tocomeandstayseveralmonthswithhimatSalem，Mass。，U。S。Andthereashestoodonthespotwherehehadseenthatlittlegoldenpictureofloveandparting，andfromwhichhecouldthatmorningcontemplateanothergoldenpicturewithavistaofgoldenyearsinit，littleKittyputherarmsaroundhisneck，andkissedhimonbothhisbronzedcheeks，andlaidherprettyfaceuponhisstorm—beatenbreast，insightofall，——ashamedtohavecalledsuchanoblecaptainnames。Andtherethecaptainwavedhishatoverhisheadthreefinaltimes；andtherehewaslastseen，goingawayaccompaniedbyTomPettiferHo，andcarryinghishandsinhispockets。Andthere，beforethatgroundwassoftenedwiththefallenleavesofthreemoresummers，arosylittleboytookhisfirstunsteadyruntoafairyoungmother’sbreast，andthenameofthatinfantfishermanwasJorganRaybrock。

Footnotes：

{1}Dicken’sdidn’twritechaptersthreeandfourandtheyareomittedinthisedition。ThestorycontinueswithCaptainJorganandAlfredatLanrean。