"Job Braden's my name," he answered, "but you have the advantage of me."
"How?" demanded the thoroughly bewildered Mrs. Pomfret.
"I hain't heard your name," he said.
"Oh, I'm Mrs. Pomfret—a very old friend of Mr. Crewe's. Whenever he has his friends with him, like this, I come over and help him. It is so difficult for a bachelor to entertain, Mr. Braden."
"Well," said Mr. Braden, bending alarmingly near her ear, "there's one way out of it."
"What's that?" said Mrs. Pomfret.
"Git married," declared Mr. Braden.
"How very clever you are, Mr. Braden! I wish poor dear Mr. Crewe would get married—a wife could take so many burdens off his shoulders. You don't know Mr. Crewe very well, do you?"
"Callate to—so so," said Mr. Braden.
Mrs. Pomfret was at sea again.