ing with
a vessel to serve our turn. All the wardrobe that Grace and I
possessed, we stood in. Small conveniences we should be easily able to
borrow, but what on earth were we to do without a change of dress or
linen? A voyage half-way round the world was indeed a new and quite
unconsidered detail of our elopement. From Boulogne to Mount's Bay
was, I had often thought, whilst making my plans, too far by several
leagues of water. But what, if in defiance of the keenest look-out for
ships, we should be carried to New Zealand? Could we get married
there? Did the Colonials impose the restrictions of the old home upon
the nuptials of a couple? Should we have to wait for Aunt Amelia's
sanction? How long would it take for her ladyship to receive a letter
from, say Otaga, and for us to get her reply?

Well, in talking, and in thinking, and in walking, and in looking, that
first afternoon passed, and at half-past five o'clock we went to
dinner. I had had a short chat with Captain Parsons, and from him had
learnt that there was no parson on board, though I flattered myself
that I had put the question in such a way as not to excite in his
brine-seasoned mind the faintest suspicion of the meaning of my
curiosity. I had also given him to understand that I was a young
gentleman of substance, and begged him to believe that any cost Grace
and I might put the ship to should be repaid with interest to her
owners.

This enabled me to take my seat at the table with an easy conscience,
for though there can be no doubt as to the humanity and hospitality of
the British shipmaster, the British ship-owner, on the other hand, I
have always heard spoken of as a person eminent for thrift and economy,
as is made manifest by the slenderness of the crew he ships, the
unsavoriness of the provisions he supplies them with, and the very
small wages he gives to his captains and mates.

It was impossible for me to find myself seated with Grace at my side at
that cheerful, hospitable, sparkling, sea dinner-table, without acutely
realising the difference betwixt this time and yesterday. Some ten or
twelve persons sat down, but there was room for another dozen, which I
believe about completed the number of saloon passengers the
_Carthusian_ carried. Captain Parsons, with a countenance varnished as
from the recent employment of soap, was at the head of the table with
Mrs. Barstow on his right, and I observed that they frequently
conversed whil