that any talk about the steamer would
be of no use in the face of the swiftness with which a hull of about
three thousand tons was diminishing to the proportions of a wherry;
"Captain Parsons is all kindness and will have his way. But marriage
or no marriage, Mr. M'Cosh, I hope he will give you and your brother
officers instructions to signal the next vessel we pass, for we really
want to get home, you know."

As I pronounced these words the square little figure of the captain,
crowned with a high hat, brushed as usual the wrong way, rose through
the companion hatch. Mr. M'Cosh touched his cap and crossed to the
other side of the deck. The captain gave me a friendly nod, and stood
awhile to send a number of seawardly, critical glances aloft, and then
round the ocean. I approached him and said, pointing to the steamer:

"There's a fine chance lost, captain."

"Lost?" cried he, "you mustn't be in a hurry yet, sir. There's your
business to do first, sir."

"True," said I, "but it might help us to get home--in time--if you will
instruct the officers under your command to communicate with any vessel
sailing to England."

"I told Mr. M'Cosh not to communicate until you were married," he
answered. "There'll be no lack of ships homeward bound, sir," and so
saying he left me to go to the rail that protected the edge of the poop
where he stood surveying the scores of steerage passengers which filled
the main-deck, many of them, as they squatted or hung about here and
there, eating their breakfasts, which seemed to me to consist of ship's
biscuit and little tin pots of black tea.

I saw nothing of Grace till the cabin breakfast was ready; most of the
first-class passengers had by this time assembled, some of them who had
been sea-sick yesterday issuing from their cabins; and I noticed a
general stare of admiration as my darling stepped forth followed by
Mrs. Barstow. Her long and comfortable night's rest had returned her
bloom to her. How sweet she looked! how engaging the girlish dignity
of her posture! how bright her timid eyes as she paused to send a
glance round in search of me! I was instantly at her side.

"The ceremony is fixed for ten, I think?" said Mrs. Barstow, and here
Miss Moggadore arrived as one who had a right to be with us, not to say
of us.

"Yes, ten o'clock," I answered. "But do these people know what is
going to happen?"

"Oh, it will certainly have got about. A ship is like a village--t