nture," said she.

"More memorable than dreadful," I answered, putting her hand under my
arm and stepping with her over to where the second mate was
standing--the young fellow who had brought us aboard out of the yacht.
He touched his cap very civilly, whilst the skin of his face shrunk
into a thousand wrinkles to the grin he put on.

"Surely something will be coming into view soon?" said I.

"Oh, I think so, sir," he answered.

"What is this rate of sailing?"

"About nine knots, sir."

"There it is!" cried I, "and every hour brings New Zealand nearer and
makes England more distant."

"Do not talk of New Zealand," exclaimed Grace. "What sort of ships are
to be met here?" she added, addressing the second mate.

"All sorts, Miss--, I beg your pardon, I mean ma'am," he answered;
"ocean tramps in the main, but a mail liner here and there."

"What are your instructions?" I began, but at that instant I caught
sight of old Parsons rising through the hatch with a sextant in his
hand. "Oh, here is the captain coming to take sights," said I; "we
must arrive at an understanding with him. I believe he would like to
keep us on board as an inducement to others to get married."

He smiled with an air of importance as we advanced, and I imagined in
him an effort to give himself the airs of a father, or of a
father-in-law. His little damp, deep-sunk eyes, so far as they could
express any species of emotion, seemed to survey us with benignity and
pride as though he would say, "_That_ couple is my work, ladies and
gentlemen. _I_ made them one. Who's next?"

"When you have finished with your sextant, captain," I exclaimed, "I
should like a few words with you."

"Pray talk away," he answered, putting the instrument to his eye.

"What about our getting home?"

"At the first opportunity that comes along, I'll transfer you. Can't
do more. Can't send ye home in one of my quarter-boats, you know."

"But your mates have no instructions."

"They shall have all necessary instructions presently. And how do you
feel, mem, after that little job below? Being married 's a trying
performance. I've known men who'd have been married twenty times over
if it hadn't been for the ceremony."

He gazed with an air of satisfaction at her wedding ring, and then
applied his eye afresh to the sextant. My mind was rendered easier by
his promise to repeat his earlier instructions to his mates, and until
the luncheon bell rang, Grace an