eg, apparently
to counterbalance the bend in his body.) "He didn't want to come; said
he warn't accustomed to ladies' society; but I told him you warn't
ladies--a--I don't mean that--not ladies o' the high-flyin' fashionable
sort, that give themselves airs, you know. Come along, Ailie."

While the captain ran on in this strain, hung up his hat, kissed Ailie,
and ran his fingers through his shaggy locks, the Misses Dunning
performed a mingled bow and courtsey to each guest as his name was
mentioned, and shook hands with him, after which the whole party entered
the parlour, where the cat was discovered enjoying a preliminary meal of
its own at one of the pats of butter. A united shriek from Martha
and Jane, a nautical howl from the guests, and a rolled-up
pocket-handkerchief from Rokens sent that animal from the table as if it
had received a galvanic shock.

"I ax yer parding, ladies," said Mr Rokens, whose aim had been so
perfect that his handkerchief not only accelerated the flight of the
cat, but carried away the violated pat of butter along with it. "I ax
yer parding, but them brutes is sich thieves--I could roast 'em alive,
so I could."

The harpooner unrolled his handkerchief, and picking the pat of butter
from its folds with his fingers, threw it into the fire. Thereafter he
smoothed down his hair, and seated himself on the extreme edge of a
chair, as near the door as possible. Not that he had any intention
whatever of taking to flight, but he deemed that position to be more
suited to his condition than any other.

In a few minutes the servant-girl returned with the eggs. While she is
engaged in boiling them, we shall introduce Captain Dunning's friends
and messmates to the reader.

Dr Hopley was a surgeon, and a particular friend of the captain's. He
was an American by birth, but had travelled so much about the world that
he had ceased to "guess" and "calculate," and to speak through his nose.
He was a man about forty, tall, big-boned, and muscular, though not
fat; and besides being a gentlemanly man, was a good-natured, quiet
creature, and a clever enough fellow besides, but he preferred to laugh
at and enjoy the jokes and witticisms of others rather than to
perpetrate any himself. Dr Hopley was intensely fond of travelling,
and being possessed of a small independence, he indulged his passion to
the utmost. He had agreed to go with Captain Dunning as the ship's
doctor, simply for the sake of seeing