"But you can please yourself. If you like to call it quits now, I don't
mind."

Mr. Brown took his seething friend aside, and conferred with him in low
but earnest tones. Mr. Gibbs, with an indifferent air, stood by
whistling softly.

"'Ow long will they take to grow?" inquired Mr. Kidd, turning to him
with a growl.

Mr. Gibbs shrugged his shoulders. "Can't say," he replied; "but I should
think two or three weeks would be enough for 'er to reckernize me by. If
she don't, we must wait another week or so, that's all."

"Well, there won't be much o' your share left, mind that," said Mr. Kidd,
glowering at him.

"I can't help it," said Mr. Gibbs. "You needn't keep reminding me of
it."

They walked the rest of the way in silence; and for the next fortnight
Mr. Gibbs's friends paid nightly visits to note the change in his
appearance, and grumble at its slowness.

"We'll try and pull it off to-morrow night," said Mr. Kidd, at the end of
that period. "I'm fair sick o' lending you money."

Mr. Gibbs shook his head and spoke sagely about not spoiling the ship for
a ha'porth o' tar; but Mr. Kidd was obdurate.