don't you mind me
calling you my dear. I've got three girls at home as old or older than
you, and a son as big as Mr Denning."

Miss Denning smiled in his face, while I felt as if I wished he would be
as fatherly with me.

"Look here," he continued, with a twinkle of the eye. "I've just had a
telegram from old Neptune. He says the gale's pretty well over, and
he's going to give us some fine weather now. He was obliged to blow up
a bit because the waves were getting sulky and idle, and the winds were
all gone to sleep."

It did not seem like the same man who was so fierce with the sailor a
short time before.

"And look here, Mr Denning," he continued, turning back after taking a
few steps toward the man at the wheel; "you're quite right, sir; pitch
the doctor overboard, and I'll prescribe for you. I've got a bottle or
two of prime port wine and burgundy on board,--you understand? And as
soon as the weather mends you must try some fishing; I dare say I can
fit you up, and young Dale here will lend a hand."

"Oh yes," I said eagerly.

"And don't know anything about it, eh?"

I stared at him in surprise.

"Why, I've fished at sea hundreds of times, sir," I said. "Whiffing,
long line, trot, and bulter; and we used to go out to the rocks off
Falmouth to set small trammels."

"Why, you're quite a sailor, Dale," said the captain. "All right, my
lad, you'll do."

"I like Captain Berriman, Lena," said Mr Denning, thoughtfully; "but I
will not have that doctor always hanging about my chair."

I saw Miss Denning look sadly at me and colour a little as she glanced
back at her brother, who nodded sharply and turned to me, and changed
the conversation. "Were you on deck when there was that disturbance?"

"Yes."

"The captain knocked the man down, didn't he?"

"Yes; sent him sprawling upon the deck."

I saw the young man's eyes flash, and there was a slight flush upon his
sallow cheek as he laid a thin hand on my arm, and went on eagerly--

"I wish I had been on deck."

"Oh, there wasn't much to see," I said. "His cheek was cut, and bled."

"So much the better. Let Mr Frewen go and attend him. But the man was
insolent, wasn't he?"

"Very, I believe; and Captain Berriman said he would have proper
discipline in his ship."

"Yes, of course. I should have liked to see the captain knock him down.
Perhaps it will make him spiteful."

I looked at him wonderingly, and he smiled.

"Well, why shouldn't