I suppose they were all formally married afterwards?"

"No, sir," said he, misunderstanding me, "they were not formerly
married. They came to me as you and the young lady will, single folks."

"Have you a special marriage service at sea?"

"The same, word for word, as you have it in the Prayer Book."

"And when it is read--?" said I, pausing.

"I enter the circumstance in the official logbook, duly witnessed, and
then there you are, much more married than it would delight you to feel
if afterwards you should find out you've made a mistake."

My heart beat fast. Though I never dreamt for an instant of accepting
this shipper's offices seriously, yet if the ceremony he performed
should be legal it would be a trump card in my hand for any game I
might hereafter have to play with Lady Amelia.

"But how," said I, "are you to get over the objections to my marriage?"

"What objections? The only objection I see is your not being married
already."

"Why," said I, "residence or licence."

He flourished his hand: "You're both aboard my ship, aren't ye? That's
residence enough for me. As to licence--there's no such thing at sea.
Suppose a couple wanted to get married in the middle of the Pacific
Ocean; where's the licence to come from?"

"But how about the consent of the guardian?"

"The lawful guardian isn't here," he answered, "the lawful guardian's
leagues astern. No use talking of guardians aboard ship. The young
lady being in this ship constitutes me her guardian, and it's enough
for you that _I_ give my consent."

His air, as he pronounced these words, induced such a fit of laughter,
that for several moments I was unable to speak. He appeared to
heartily enjoy my merriment, and sat watching me with the broadest of
grins.

"I'm glad you take to the notion kindly," said he. "I was afraid, with
Mrs. Barstow, that you'd create a difficulty."

"I! Indeed, Captain Parsons, I have nothing in the world else to do,
nothing in the world else to think of but to get married. But how
about Miss Bellassys?" I added, with a shake of the head. "What will
she have to say to a shipboard wedding?"

"You leave her to Mrs. Barstow and Miss Moggadore," said he with a nod;
"besides, it's for her to be anxious to get married. Make no mistake,
young man. Until she becomes Mrs. Barclay, her situation is by no
means what it ought to be."

"But is it the fact, captain," I exclaimed, visited by a new emotion of
surprise