by means of which it
could be drawn up when any one wished to let the water off. The pitcher
was made broad and flat at the bottom, and very heavy, so that it could
not be easily upset; and then there was a socket for it in the lower
part of the wash stand, which confined it effectually, and prevented
its sliding about when the ship was rolling in a heavy sea.

The tumbler was secured in a more curious manner still. It was placed in
a brass ring, which projected from the wall in a corner over the wash
stand, and which was made just large enough to receive it. The soap dish
and the brush tray were also placed in sockets cut to receive them in
the marble slab, which formed the upper part of the wash stand. The
looking glass was round, and was screwed to the wall by means of a stem
and a ball or socket joint, in such a manner that it could be set in any
position required, according to the height of the observer, and yet it
could not by any possibility fall from its place. There were very few
pegs or pins for hanging clothes upon, because, when clothes are thus
hung, they are found to swing back and forth whenever the ship is
rolling in a heavy sea, in a manner that is very tiresome and
disagreeable for sick passengers to see. Nor were there many shelves
about the state room; for if there had been, the passengers would be
likely to put various articles upon them when the sea was smooth; and
then, when the ship came to pitch and roll in gales of wind, the things
would all slide off upon the floor. So instead of shelves there were
pockets made of canvas or duck, several together, one above another.
These pockets formed very convenient receptacles for such loose articles
as the passengers might have in their state rooms, and were, of course,
perfectly secure.

There were _two_ shelves, it is true, in Jennie's state room,--one over
each of the two wash stands,--but they were protected by a ledge about
the edges of them, which would effectually prevent such things as might
be placed upon them from sliding off.

By the time that Rollo and Jane had examined these things, a porter came
into the state room, bringing their trunk upon his shoulder. Maria told
the children that they had better open the trunk and take out all that
they would be likely to require while on board, and then stow the trunk
itself away under the lower berth, in one of the state rooms.

"Because," said she, "as soon as we get out upon the heavy seas we sha