together, it is true, but I didn't know you for a reader of faces. You
are not a correct reader though. It's very far from being wrong. You
understand? As far from being wrong as it can very well be. It ought
to teach you not to make rash surmises. You should leave that to the
shore people. They are great hands at spying out something wrong. I
dare say they know what they have made of the world. A dam' poor job of
it and that's plain. It's a confoundedly ugly place, Mr Franklin. You
don't know anything of it? Well--no, we sailors don't. Only now and
then one of us runs against something cruel or underhand, enough to make
your hair stand on end. And when you do see a piece of their wickedness
you find that to set it right is not so easy as it looks... Oh! I
called you back to tell you that there will be a lot of workmen, joiners
and all that, sent down on board first thing to-morrow morning to start
making alterations in the cabin. You will see to it that they don't
loaf. There isn't much time."

Franklin was impressed by this unexpected lecture upon the wickedness of
the solid world surrounded by the salt, uncorruptible waters on which he
and his captain had dwelt all their lives in happy innocence. What he
could not understand was why it should have been delivered, and what
connection it could have with such a matter as the alterations to be
carried out in the cabin. The work did not seem to him to be called for
in such a hurry. What was the use of altering anything? It was a very
good accommodation, spacious, well-distributed, on a rather
old-fashioned plan, and with its decorations somewhat tarnished. But a
dab of varnish, a touch of gilding here and there, was all that was
necessary. As to comfort, it could not be improved by any alterations.
He resented the notion of change; but he said dutifully that he would
keep his eye on the workmen if the captain would only let him know what
was the nature of the work he had ordered to be done.

"You'll find a note of it on this table. I'll leave it for you as I go
ashore," said Captain Anthony hastily. Franklin thought there was no
more to hear, and made a movement to leave the saloon. But the captain
continued after a slight pause, "You will be surprised, no doubt, when
you look at it. There'll be a good many alterations. It's on account
of a lady coming with us. I am going to get married, Mr Franklin!"

PART TWO, CHAPTER 2.

YOUNG POW