o the skin, or something of that kind.
Even then I am inclined to think a cup of scalding hot coffee really
does one more good."

"Well, I guess you're as nearly right as makes no matter," returned my
hostess. "Now, just you come into my drawing-room, and I'll give you a
cup of real good tea. Ah! there is Lizette, my chief stewardess. I
guess she is looking for me to tell me that tea is served, so come
along."

The lady was right in her surmise, for the trig, decidedly pretty, and
exceedingly capable-looking young woman, in a black dress, with white
cap and apron, who at that moment stepped out on deck, came forward and
duly made the anticipated announcement.

It was a distinctly novel experience for me to find myself seated in
that elegant apartment, drinking the most delicious tea I had ever
tasted out of a hand-painted cup of china which I knew must be worth its
weight in gold, munching cakes and biscuits of wonderful flavour, and
being treated quite as an equal by this smartly dressed and vivacious
American lady. Not the least of her charms was that she had the knack
of putting one absolutely at one's ease; and presently she began to
question me about myself.

"I guess I don't know now whether I've done you any kindness in inviting
you aboard to see over the _Stella Maris_," she said. "I reckon your
own ship will seem a bit dowdy in comparison, won't she?"

"I am sure she will--when I find her," I replied. "Unfortunately, I
haven't a ship just now; indeed, I had been prowling round the docks all
day looking for one when the sight of your yacht brought me up all
standing. I love a pretty ship, and anxious though I am to get another
berth, I could not deny myself the pleasure of taking a good look at
her."

"Y-e-s," my companion agreed; "I can understand that feeling and
sympathise with it too. There's nothing made by the hand of man that I
admire more than a handsome ship. And so you're out of a berth, Mr--"

"Leigh," I supplied; "Walter Leigh, at your service, madam."

"Thank you!" she answered. "Any relation to the Lees of Virginia?"

"No," I said, "I am afraid not. I am a Leigh of Devon, you know--
L-e-i-g-h, not L double e."

"I see," she responded. "Well, Mr Leigh, if it's not a rude question
to ask, how do you come to be out of employment?"

"Not through any misconduct of mine, I am happy to say," I answered.
"The way of it is this. The City line of ships--the line in which I
served a