well doing) might suffer in consequence. Strict as he might
therefore appear, he was only doing his duty.

Grace being requested from Mr Ferguson, he indulged the company with
one quite as long as usual; rather too long considering that the ship
was very unsteady, and the ladies had to cling to the table for support.
But Mr Ferguson was not a sailor, or he would have known that it is
the custom to reduce the grace in proportion with the canvass. When the
royals are set, we submit to a homily; under double-reefed topsails, a
blessing; but under storm stay-sails, an ejaculation is considered as
orthodox.

"Mrs Ferguson, will you permit me to send you a little mulligatawney?
said Captain Drawlock. If you prefer it, there is sheep's-head broth at
the other end of the table."

"Then I will take a little of the broth, if you please, Captain
Drawlock."

"Mr Mathews, Mrs Ferguson will take some broth. I am sorry, Mrs
Ferguson, that our table is so ill-supplied; but a long voyage and bad
weather has been very fatal to our hen-coops."

"Indeed, Captain Drawlock, you need not apologise." Nor was there any
occasion, for the table was loaded.

"Perhaps Miss Laura Revel will permit me to send her a slice of this
mutton?" said the obsequious colonel.

"No, I thank you; I have eaten nothing but mutton lately. I think I
shall be a sheep myself soon," added the young lady, tittering.

"That would be very much against your inclination, I should think, Miss
Laura," observed Mrs Ferguson, tartly.

"La! why so? how do you know, Mrs Ferguson?"

"Because a sheep never changes its name until after it is dead. I
shrewdly suspect you would like to change yours before."--(This was a
hard hit.)

"As you have yours, Mrs Ferguson," quietly answered Isabel, in support
of her sister.

"Very fair on both sides," said the colonel, bowing to the ladies, who
sat together. "Pray Miss Laura, don't talk of being a sheep, we are all
ready to devour you as it is."

"La! you don't say so?" replied the young lady, much pleased.

"Colonel Ellice," interrupted Captain Drawlock, with a serious air,
"several of the company will thank you to carve that joint, when you
have finished paying your compliments. Miss Tavistock, the honour of a
glass of wine. We have not had the pleasure of your company on deck
to-day."

"No, Captain Drawlock. I did intend to come, but my health is in such a
delicate state, that by the advice of Dr Plausible I