contriving to get commodious seats for dinner. The officers of the
ship were all busy, treating with apparent indifference the thousand
questions that were asked them on every side; and all was bustle,
confusion, hurry, and noise.

And then they were off. The pistons of the engine moved slowly up
and down, the huge cranks revolved, and the waters under the bow
rippled and gave way. They were off, and the business of the voyage
commenced. The younger people prepared for their flirtations, the
mothers unpacked their children's clothes, and the elderly gentlemen
lighted their cigars.

"What very queer women they are!" said Arthur, walking the deck with
his cousin.

"But very pretty, and very agreeable. I like them both."

"Don't you think them too free and easy?"

"Ah, you must not judge of them by women who have lived in England,
who have always had the comfort of well-arranged homes. They have
been knocked about, ill used, and forced to bear hardships as men
bear them; but still there is about them so much that is charming.
They are so frank!"

"Yes, very frank," said Arthur.

"It is well to see the world on all sides," said George. "For myself,
I think that we are lucky to have come across them--that is, if Major
Biffin does not cut my throat."

"I hope Captain M'Gramm won't cut mine. He looked as though he
would."

"Did you ever see such an ass as that Biffin? I don't wonder that she
has become sick of him; and then he has behaved so very badly to her.
I really do pity her. She has told me all about it."

"And so has Mrs. Price told me all about Captain M'Gramm."

"Has she? Well! It seems that he, Biffin, has taken advantage of her
frank, easy manner, and talked of her to every man in the ship. I
think she has been quite right to cut him." And so they discussed the
two ladies.

And at last Mrs. Price got her porter, and Mrs. Cox got her pale ale.
"I do like pale ale," said she; "I suppose it's vulgar, but I can't
help that. What amuses me is, that so many ladies drink it who are
quite ashamed to say they like it."

"They take it for their health's sake," said Bertram.

"Oh, yes; of course they do. Mrs. Bangster takes her half-pint of
brandy every night for her health's sake, no doubt. Would you believe
it, Mr. Bertram, the doctor absolutely had to take her out of the
saloon one night in the 'Lahore'? Didn't he, Mrs. Price?"

"Indeed he did. I never was so shocked.--Just a little drop more to
freshe