nd nodded in the direction of Mr. Atherton, who was
standing with his back towards them a short distance away.

Marion's eyes opened wide.

"Oh, Wil, what a big man! He must quite fill up the cabin."

"He seems an awfully good fellow, Marion."

"I daresay he may be, Wil; but he will certainly take up more than his
share of the cabin."

"It is awkward, isn't it, young lady?" Mr. Atherton said, suddenly
turning round on his heel, to Marion's horror, while Wilfrid flushed
scarlet, for he had not the least idea that his words could be heard. "I
have capital hearing, you see," Mr. Atherton went on with a laugh, "and
a very useful sense it is sometimes, and has stood me in good service
upon many occasions, though I own that it effectually prevents my
cherishing any illusion as to my personal appearance. This is your
sister, of course, Renshaw; in fact, anyone could see that at a glance.
There is nothing like making acquaintances early on the voyage; the
first day is in that respect the most important of all."

"Why is that?" Marion asked.

"Because as a rule the order in which people sit down to table on the
first day of the voyage is that in which they sit the whole time. Now,
if one happens to sit one's self down by people who turn out
disagreeable it is a very great nuisance, and therefore it is very
important to find out a little about one's fellow-passengers the first
day, so as to take a seat next to someone whom you are not likely to
quarrel with before you have been a week at sea."

"Then they do not arrange places for you, Mr. Atherton?"

"Oh no; the captain perhaps settles as to who are to sit up by him. If
there is anyone of special importance, a governor or vice-governor or
any other big-wig, he and his wife, if he has got one, will probably sit
next to the captain on one side, if not, he will choose someone who has
been specially introduced to him or who has sailed with him before, and
the steward, before the party sit down, puts their names on their
plates; everyone else shifts for themselves. Renshaw, I shall be glad if
you will introduce me to your father and mother, and if we get on well I
will go down below and arrange that we get places together. I have been
chatting with the first officer, who is a very pleasant fellow; I have
sailed with him before. The rule is he sits at the end of the table
facing the captain, and my experience is that when the first officer
happens to be a good fellow, which