nguished in their notes, without breaking into
a loud laugh, for which I instantly apologised by saying that his
speaking of "giving away" recalled to me a very nervous uncle who had
to undertake this office, and who, on the minister saying, "Who giveth
this woman to be married to this man?" gasped out, "I do," and
instantly fell down in a dead faint.

There was a knock at the door and Mr. Higginson, followed by Mr.
M'Cosh, entered.

"Mr. Higginson," immediately cried the captain, "you will give the
bride away."

The lawyer put his hand upon his shirt-front and bowed. I glanced at
M'Cosh who had scarcely had time to do more than flourish a hair brush.
He was extraordinarily grave, and turned a very literal eye round
about. I asked him if he had ever before taken part in a ceremony of
this sort at sea. He reflected and answered, "No, neither at sea nor
ashore."

"But seeing that you are a witness, Mr. M'Cosh, you thoroughly
understand the significance of the marriage service, I hope?" said Mr.
Higginson, drily.

"D'ye know, then, sir," answered M'Cosh, in the voice of a saw going
through a balk of timber, "I never read or heard a line of the marriage
service in all my life. But I have a very good understanding of the
object of the ceremony."

"I hope so, Mr. M'Cosh," said the captain, looking at him doubtfully.
"It is as a witness that you're here."

"'Twill be a _fact_, no doubt?" said Mr. M'Cosh.

"Certainly," said the lawyer.

"Then, of course," said the mate, "I shall always be able to swear to
it."

"Ten past ten," cried the captain, whipping out his watch. "I hope
Miss Moggadore's not keeping the ladies waiting whilst she powders
herself, or fits a new cap to her hair."

He opened the door to call to the steward, then hopped back with a
sudden convulsive sea bow to make room for the ladies who were
approaching.

My darling was very white and looked at me piteously. She came to my
side, and slipped her hand into mine, whispering under her breath,
"Such a silly, senseless ceremony!" I pressed her fingers, and
whispered back that the ceremony was not for us, but for Aunt Amelia.
She wore her hat and jacket, and Mrs. Barstow was clad as for the deck;
but Miss Moggadore, on the other hand, as though in justification of
what the captain had said about her, made her appearance in the most
extraordinary cap I had ever seen: an inflated arrangement, as though
she were fresh from a breeze of wind tha