years!"

Sam shook his 'ead and looked at the floor.

"I happened to go and see Peter's sister--my niece Polly," ses Mr.
Goodman, "and she told me the name of 'is ship. It was quite by chance,
because she told me it was the fust letter she had 'ad from him in seven
years."

"I didn't think it was so long as that," ses Peter. "Time passes so
quick."

His uncle nodded. "Ah, so it does," 'e ses. "It's all the same whether
we spend it on the foaming ocean or pass our little lives ashore. Afore
we can turn round, in a manner o' speaking, it 'as gorn."

"The main thing," ses Peter, in a good voice, "is to pass it properly."

"Then it don't matter," ses Ginger.

"So it don't," ses Sam, very serious.

"I held 'im in my arms when 'e was a baby," ses Mr. Goodman, looking at
Peter.

"Fond o' children?" ses Sam.

Mr. Goodman nodded. "Fond of everybody," he ses.

"That's 'ow Peter is," ses Ginger; "specially young----"