’Isay，’hebegan，withathoughtfulbrow，’haven’tIseenyoubefore？’
’It’slikeyoumay，’saidHugh，inhiscarelessway。’Idon’tknow;shouldn’twonder。’
’No，butit’sveryeasilysettled，’returnedSim。’Lookatme。
DidyoueverseeMEbefore？Youwouldn’tbelikelytoforgetit，youknow，ifyoueverdid。Lookatme。Don’tbeafraid;Iwon’tdoyouanyharm。Takeagoodlook——steadynow。’
TheencouragingwayinwhichMrTappertitmadethisrequest，andcoupleditwithanassurancethatheneedn’tbefrightened，amusedHughmightily——somuchindeed，thatbesawnothingatallofthesmallmanbeforehim，throughclosinghiseyesinafitofheartylaughter，whichshookhisgreatbroadsidesuntiltheyachedagain。