either side of them to catch a glimpse of it. The bottom was deep
below them, and it was as though they were moving through an aqueous
atmosphere.

They were comfortable, and beginning to be accustomed to their
surrounding circumstances. The air came in regularly and steadily
through the electric gills, and when deteriorated air had collected in
the expiration-chamber in the upper part of the vessel, it was forced
out by a great piston, which sent it by a hundred little valves into the
surrounding water. Thus the pure air came in and the refuse air went out
just as if the little Dipsey had been healthfully breathing as it pushed
its way through the depths.

Mrs. Block was gaining flesh. The narrow accommodations, the everlasting
electric light, the sameness of food, and a total absence of incident
had become quite natural to her, and she had ceased to depend upon the
companionship of the dust-brush and the almanac to carry her mind back
to what she considered the real things of life.

Sarah had something better now to take her mind back to Sardis and
the people and things on dry land. The engagement and probably early
marriage of Mr. Clewe and Mrs. Raleigh had made a great impression upon
her, and there were days when she never thought of the pole, so busy
was she in making plans based upon the future connection of the life of
herself and Sammy and that of Mr. and Mrs. Clewe.

Sammy and his wife had very good quarters within the boundaries of the
works, but Sarah had never been quite satisfied with them, and when
the new household of Clewe should be set up, and all the new domestic
arrangements should be made, she hoped for better things. Mr. Clewe's
little cottage would then be vacant, for of course he and his wife would
not live in such a place as that, and she thought that she and Sammy
should have it. Hour by hour and day by day she planned the furnishing,
the fitting, and the management of this cottage.

She was determined to have a servant, a woman thoroughly capable of
doing general house-work; and then there were times when she believed
that if Sammy should succeed in finding the pole his salary would be
increased, and they might be able to afford two servants. Over and over
again did she consider the question whether, in this latter case, these
women should both be general house-work servants, or one of them a
cook and the other a chamber-maid and laundress. There was much to be
considered on each side.