, sir," said the doctor, "you've done it this time. Have you any
idea what an object you look?"

"No," said Steve, in a tone of voice which told of his mortification.

"Go to your cabin, then, and look in the glass. I should prescribe a
little water, too!"

"Hadn't I better jump overboard for it, then?" cried Steve bitterly.

"Bah! Rubbish! Don't talk nonsense!" cried the doctor, catching the
lad by the arm.

"Why, what's the matter?" said the mate, coming up hurriedly.

"Oh, nothing much. We've had an accident, and spilt some feathers about
the deck, and it has made the captain angry about the way in which it
was done. Have them cleared up, man. Come along, Steve lad; and don't
look like that," he whispered, as he half dragged the lad away.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN.

MORAL SURGERY.

"How easy it is to get into trouble!" said Steve; "and what a watch one
has to keep over one's self! There I was, as happy and contented as
could be, only a little while ago, and now everything's miserable. I
wouldn't care if the captain had not spoken to me like that."

"Go and tell him you're sorry," said the doctor.

"I can't."

"But you must, my lad. You were in the wrong, weren't you?"

"I don't think so. It was all a bit of fun. I never expected that the
boy would turn like that."

"Well, wasn't it foolish of you to go making a playmate of such a rough,
common lad? I'm not snobbish, Steve, but I think people get on better
who make friends in their own class; and if your poor father could have
seen you fighting a--"

"Oh, don't, don't!" cried Steve, "pray! I know I behaved like a
blackguard, and it served me right."

"There, now you're behaving like a human donkey, my lad, and talking
nonsense. Put it aside now. You're hot and excited. Let me give you a
sedative draught."

"Oh, Mr Handscombe!" cried the lad passionately. "To talk of physic at
a time like this!"

"There you go again!" cried the doctor, unconsciously using Watty
Links's expression. "You've made your blood boil, and it wants cooling
down."

"Then I'll drink some water or suck a lump of ice," said Steve bitterly.
"I can't take physic now."

"Nonsense, you excitable young donkey!" cried the doctor. "I meant a
mental sedative draught. I want you to hear reason, if you will listen
to me."

"I don't want to listen; I only want to be alone, sir."

"Yes, to get into a stupid, morbid state, when a little bit of brave
surgery--moral