e at the coffee, and
still more at the cigarette; but having his appetite for tobacco
aroused, and finding that no alarming symptoms ensued, he followed it
with a cigar and later on was induced to go the length of "Scotch and
soda," under the pleasant effect of which--and John's sympathetic
efforts--he was for the time transformed, the younger man being
surprised to find him a man of interesting experience, considerable
reading, and, what was most surprising, a jolly sense of humor and a
fund of anecdotes which he related extremely well. The evening was a
decided success, perhaps the best evidence of it coming at the last,
when, at John's suggestion that they supplement their modest potations
with a "night-cap," Mr. Carling cheerfully assented upon the condition
that they should "have it with him"; and as he went along the deck after
saying "Good night," John was positive that he heard a whistled tune.

The next day was equally fine, but during the night the ship had run
into the swell of a storm, and in the morning there was more motion than
the weaker ones could relish. The sea grew quieter as the day advanced.
John was early, and finished his breakfast before Miss Blake came in.
He found her on deck about ten o'clock. She gave him her hand as they
said good morning, and he turned and walked by her side.

"How is your brother-in-law this morning?" he inquired.

"Oh," she said, laughing, "he's in a mixture of feeling very well and
feeling that he ought not to feel so, but, as they are coming up pretty
soon, it would appear that the misgivings are not overwhelming. He came
in last night, and retired without saying a word. My sister pretended to
be asleep. She says he went to sleep at once, and that she was awake at
intervals and knows that he slept like a top. He won't make any very
sweeping admissions, however, but has gone so far as to concede that he
had a very pleasant evening--which is going a long way for him--and to
say that you are a very agreeable young man. There! I didn't intend to
tell you that, but you have been so good that perhaps so much as a
second-hand compliment is no more than your due."

"Thank you very much," said John. "Mr. Carling is evidently a very
discriminating person. Really it wasn't good of me at all. I was quite
the gainer, for he entertained me more than I did him. We had a very
pleasant evening, and I hope we shall have more of them, I do, indeed. I
got an entirely different impressi