, who was
appointed to inspect the health of the crew and passengers, before the
ship sailed.

Doctor MacAdie was a lively, little, red haired man, with high
cheek-bones, and a large Roman nose out of all proportion to the size of
his diminutive body, but perfectly harmonising with his wide,
sensible-looking mouth. His sharp, clear blue eyes, seemed to have crept
as close to his nose as they possibly could, in the vain hope of
glancing over the high, ridgy barrier it formed between them, which gave
to their owner a peculiarly acute, penetrating expression,--a glance
which appeared to look you through and through; yet, though extremely
grotesque, it was a benevolent, pleasing face, full of blunt kindness
and ready wit.

The Doctor's snuff-box seemed part and parcel of himself; for the
quaint, old-fashioned horn repository, which contained the pungent
powder, _real Scotch_, never left his hand during his professional
dialogue with Mrs. Lyndsay.

He shook his head, as his keen eyes read sickness of mind and body in
her weary and care-worn face. "Ye are ill, my gude leddy," said he in
broad Scotch; "in nae condition to undertak' sic a lang voyage."

Mrs. Lyndsay answered frankly and truly, that she had been indisposed
during the past week, and her recovery was so recent, that she felt much
better in health than her looks warranted.

The Doctor examined her tongue, felt her pulse, and still shook his head
doubtingly. "Feverish--rapid pulse--bad tongue--just out o' yer bed,
from attack near akin to cholera. I tell ye that ye are mair fit to go
to bed again, under the dochtor's care, than to attempt crossing the
Atlantic in a close crib like this."

"The fresh sea air will soon restore me to health," said Flora. "You
know, Doctor, that we cannot command circumstances, and have things
exactly as we could wish;" and she checked the sigh which rose to her
lips, as she recalled to mind her dear, comfortable cottage at ----, and
glanced round the narrow cabin, and its miserable accommodations.

The Doctor regarded her with eyes full of compassion. He certainly
guessed her thoughts, and seemed as well acquainted with complaints of
the mind as with bodily ailments.

"Weel, weel, I ha'e my ain doubts as to your fitness for sic a voyage in
your weak state; but I'll e'en jist let ye pass. Are you married or
single?"

"Married."

"An' the gudeman?----"

"Is on deck with the captain. He will be here presently."

"Ha'e ye