“I say it’s a pity ‘twas dressed.”

“What was dressed?”

“What! why, the Crab!”

“The Crab—dressed!”

“Ay. They’re a deal safer not dressed.”

“Are they?”

“She knows it too.”

“Does she?”

“But there—them women likes a spice of danger. She’s in a nice state now, you bet. Not much sleep for her, I’ll lay. Well, I tried to keep her from it, so you needn’t blame me.”

“I won’t,” said the Prophet, feeling completely dazed.