, you won't throw me off my balance; while if the vessel
gives a sharper roll than usual, you and your brother may both lose your
feet together."

As soon as they started on their walk Mr. Atherton began an amusing
story of some adventure of his in the Western States of America, and
Marion was so interested that she forgot all about her uncomfortable
sensation, and was astonished when on hearing the lunch-bell ring she
discovered she was getting perfectly well.

"Where is Wilfrid?" she asked.

"There he is, leaning over the lee bulwark; the fiend of sea-sickness
has him in its grip."

"Only think of Wilfrid being unwell and me being all right! You have
quite driven it away, Mr. Atherton, for I was feeling very poorly when I
began to walk with you."

"I will go down and get you some luncheon and bring it up here to you.
Curl yourself up in my chair until I return, and do not think more about
the motion than you can help. You had better not go near your
brother--people who are ill hate being pitied."

An hour later Wilfrid went below. In the evening, however, the wind
dropped considerably, and the next morning the sea was sparkling in the
sunlight, and the _Flying Scud_ was making her way along with a scarcely
perceptible motion. Thenceforth the weather was delightful throughout
the voyage to Rio. The passengers found upon closer acquaintance that
they all got on well together, and the days passed away pleasantly. In
the evenings the piano was brought up from the cabin on to the deck, and
for two or three hours there was singing, varied by an occasional dance
among the young people.

From the day of their leaving England Mr. Atherton had been the leading
spirit on board the ship. If a misunderstanding arose he acted as
mediator. He was ever ready to propose pastimes and amusements to
lighten the monotony of the voyage, took the leading part in the
concerts held on deck when the evenings were calm and clear, and was
full of resource and invention. With the four or five children on board
he was prime favourite, and Mr. Renshaw often wondered at the patience
and good temper with which he submitted to all their whims, and was
ready to give up whatever he was doing to submit himself to their
orders. He had, before they had been ten days at sea, talked over with
Mr. Renshaw the latter's plans, and advised him upon no account to be in
a hurry to snap up the first land offered to him.

"Half the people who come out to t