e weather,
ain't it, after the shindy that `rude Boreas' kicked up two days ago?"

"Allow me," interposed Sir Reginald, who had closely followed the
castaway in on deck. "My dear,"--to Lady Olivia--"this is Captain Silas
Barker, the only survivor of the wreck of his schooner, _Amy Pelham_,
which was cast away two days ago. My wife, Lady Elphinstone; Mlle.
Sziszkinski, Colonel Sziszkinski, Colonel Lethbridge, Professor von
Schalckenberg, and the gentleman who was in the boat with me is Captain
Mildmay."

"Je-ru-salem!" exclaimed Barker, as he insisted on shaking hands with
each of the persons named; "seems to me that at last the great ambition
of my life is bein' gratified by my gettin' on intimate terms with the
nobs. Quite a distinguished comp'ny, I'm sure. And you, sir, I
_presume_, are Lord Elphinstone?"

"Oh dear no," answered the individual addressed, with a smile, despite
himself; "I am merely Sir Reginald."

"Sir Reginald!" commented Barker. "Well, I guess it amounts to pretty
much the same thing. But, where's your crew, Sir Reginald? I don't see
no hands about your decks."

"We do not need any," answered Sir Reginald. "We work the ship
ourselves--so far as she needs working. And now, if you would like to
go below, Mr Barker, and have a wash and brush-up, my servant shall
show you to your cabin. And if you are hard up for linen and a change
of clothes, we can perhaps fit you out, amongst us."

"Well, that's uncommon handsome of you, Sir Reginald, I'm sure,"
answered Barker. "The fact is that I've got here,"--regarding his
bundle somewhat doubtfully--"a shift of clothes that I got out of the
cabin of the schooner this morning; but I guess they're pretty damp,
and--"

"Quite so; I understand," returned Sir Reginald. "You shall have a suit
of mine. You will probably be able to get into them without much
difficulty."

"I guess I shall be able to git into 'em, and turn round and come out
again," remarked Barker, eyeing his host's splendid proportions with
undisguised admiration. "All the same, sir, if you don't mind, I'll
have 'em; for they'll be dry, and I'm most awful subject to rheumatism."

At this juncture George appeared, and in obedience to Sir Reginald's
instructions, conducted the new guest to a vacant cabin, indicated to
him the whereabouts of the bathrooms, and laid out one of Sir Reginald's
blue serge suits for him, together with such other necessaries as the
exigencies of his con