s the uniform of a captain of a yacht; you see that's
different from what it would be if I commanded a merchant vessel, or a
liner, or a man-of-war!"

"It looks awfully cool for such weather," said she.

"Yes," said the Captain, "but it's the proper thing; and yachts, you
know, generally cruise around in warmish weather. However, we're getting
south as fast as we can. I tell you, madam, this yacht is a good one!
We've just cast the log, and she's doing better than fourteen knots an
hour, and we haven't got full steam on, either! It seems funny, madam,
for me to command a steamer, but I'll get used to it in no time. If it
was a sailing-vessel, it wouldn't be anything out of the way, because
I've studied navigation, and I know more about a ship than many a
skipper, but a steam yacht is different! However, I've got men under me
who know how to do what I order them to do, and if necessary they're
ready to tell me what I ought to order!"

"I don't believe there could be a better captain," said Mrs. Cliff, "and
I do hope you won't take cold! And now I want to see the ministers as
soon as they are ready. I think it will be well for me to receive them
up here. I am not sure that I remember properly the names of all of
them, but I shall not hesitate to ask them, and then I shall present
each one of them to you: it will be a sort of a reception, you know!
After that we can all go on pleasantly like one family. We will have to
have a pretty big table in the saloon, but I suppose we can manage
that!"

"Oh yes," said Mr. Burke; "and now I'll see the steward and tell him to
let the parsons know that you're ready to receive them."

About a quarter of an hour after this the steward appeared on deck, and
approaching Mrs. Cliff and the Captain, touched his hat. "Come to
report, sir," said he, "the ministers are all sea-sick! There ain't none
of them wants to get out of their berths, but some of them want tea."

Mrs. Cliff and the Captain could not help laughing, although she
declared it was not a laughing matter.

"But it isn't surprising," said the Captain; "it's pretty rough, and I
suppose they're all thorough-bred landsmen. But they'll get over it
before long, and when they come on deck it's likely it will be
pleasanter weather. We're having a considerable blow just now, and it
will be worse when we get farther out! So I should say that you and
Miss Croup and myself had better have our breakfast."

The steward was still stand