He walked a little further off from the ship. “She didn't go there,” he ses, in a whisper.
“You've got something on your mind,” I ses. “Wot is it?”
He wouldn't tell me at fust, but at last he told me all about the letter from Dorothy, and 'is wife reading it unbeknown to 'im and going to meet 'er.
“It was an awful meeting!” he ses. “Awful!”
I couldn't think wot to make of it. “Was the gal there, then?” I ses, staring at 'im.
“No,” ses the skipper; “but I was.”
“You?” I ses, starting back. “You! Wot for? I'm surprised at you! I wouldn't ha' believed it of you!”
“I felt a bit curious,” he ses, with a silly sort o' smile. “But wot I can't understand is why the gal didn't turn up.”
“I'm ashamed of you, Bill,” I ses, very severe.
“P'r'aps she did,” he ses, 'arf to 'imself, “and then saw my missis standing there waiting. P'r'aps that was it.”