lly
competent to instruct her in most other matters, while he rightly
believed that her mind would be expanded by visiting the strange and
interesting scenes to which during the voyage he hoped to introduce her.
"As for needle-work and embroidery, why, Jacob and I can teach you as
well as can most women; and our black fellow Nub will cut out your
dresses with all the skill and taste of a practised mantua-maker," he
had said when talking to Alice on the subject of her going.

Alice was delighted to accompany her father, and hoped to be a real
comfort to him. She would take charge of his cabin and keep it in
beautiful order, and repair his clothes, and take care that a button was
never wanting; and would pour out his coffee and tea, and write out his
journal and keep his accounts, she hoped. And should he fall sick, how
carefully she would watch over him; indeed, she flattered herself that
she could be of no slight use. Then, she might be a companion to
Walter, who might otherwise become as rough and rude as some ship-boys
she had seen; not that it was his nature to be rough, she thought, but
she had often written in her copy-book, "Evil communications corrupt
good manners," and Walter's truly good manners might deteriorate among
the rough crew of the whaler. Alice also intended to be very diligent
with her books, and she could learn geography in a practical way few
young ladies are able to enjoy. And, lastly, she had a sketch-book and
a colour-box, by means of which she hoped to make numberless drawings of
the scenery and people she was to visit. Altogether, she was not likely
to find the time hang heavy on her hands.

In many respects she was not disappointed in her expectations. As soon
as the ship was clear of the Channel and fairly at sea, her father began
the course of instruction he intended to pursue during the voyage. Mr
Jacob Shobbrok the mate, and Nub, delighted to impart such feminine
accomplishments as they possessed; and it amused her to see how deftly
their strong hands plied their needles.

Nub, as the black steward was generally called, had been for the best
part of his life at sea with her father. He had been christened Nubia,
which name was abridged into Nub; and sometimes she and Walter, when
they were little children, had been accustomed, as a term of endearment,
to call him "Nubby," and even now they frequently so called him. He was
truly devoted to his captain's children, but more especi