Tasker smiled wanly. "That's my reward for being steady," he said,
with some bitterness; "that's what comes of having a good name in the
place. I get Selina Vickers after me."
"You--you must have asked her to come here in the first place," said the
astonished captain.
"Ask her?" repeated Mr. Tasker, with respectful scorn. "Ask her? She
don't want no asking."
"What does she come for, then?" inquired the other.
"Me," said Mr. Tasker, brokenly. "I never dreamt o' such a thing. I was
going 'er way one night--about three weeks ago, it was--and I walked with
her as far as her road-Mint Street. Somehow it got put about that we
were walking out. A week afterwards she saw me in Harris's, the
grocer's, and waited outside for me till I come out and walked 'ome with
me. After she came in the other night I found we was keeping company.
To-night-tonight she got a ring out o' me, and now we're engaged."
"What on earth did you give her the ring for if you don't want her?"
inquired the captain, eyeing him with genuine concern.
"Ah, it seems easy, sir," said the unfortunate; "but you don't know
Selina.
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