other lady-passengers, all unmarried, on board on the
present occasion. The elder of the three, a Miss Butler, was a lady "of
a certain age," with a quiet subdued manner, and nothing remarkable
about her, either in character or appearance.

The two others were cousins, both of them being young and very pretty.
The younger of the twain, Blanche Lascelles, was making the voyage on
the recommendation of her physician, her health having been somewhat
delicate of late. "There are no very alarming symptoms at present, my
dear madam," was the doctor's assurance to Blanche's mother; "and a good
long sea-voyage, say out to Australia and back, will be more beneficial
than a whole pharmacopoeia of drugs." In accordance with which opinion
Blanche's passage had been taken out and home on board the _Galatea_;
and her fair self especially confided to the care and protection of
Captain and Mrs Staunton. This young lady was eighteen years of age,
fair-haired, blue-eyed, _petite_, very merry and light-hearted, and
altogether exceedingly attractive and lovable.

Her cousin, Violet Dudley, aged twenty-two, was a tall and stately
brunette, with a wealth of dark sheeny chestnut hair, almost black in
the shade, magnificent dark eyes, which flashed scornfully or melted
into tenderness according to the mood of that imperious beauty, their
owner, and a figure the ideal perfection and grace of which are rarely
to be met with out of the sculptor's marble. The rich healthy colour of
her cheeks and full ripe lips, and the brilliant sparkle of her glorious
eyes showed that it was not for health's sake she had undertaken the
voyage. She was on board the _Galatea_ in order that her cousin Blanche
might have the benefit of her companionship, and also because a
favourable occasion now presented itself for her to visit some friends
in Sydney, whither the _Galatea_ was bound.

The rest of the passengers, thirteen in number, were gentlemen. Of
these it will be necessary to describe three only, namely, Mr Forester
Dale, Mr Fortescue, and Mr Brook. Messrs. Dale and Fortescue were
partners, being contractors in a rather large way; and Mr Brook was
their general manager and right-hand man. The trio were now going out
to Australia on business connected with a large job about to be
undertaken in that colony, for which they were anxious to secure the
contract.

Mr Dale, or Mr Forester Dale as he preferred to be styled, was a
somewhat querulous indivi