single glass of sherry taken with my soup); and the table appointments
were on a par with the food and the sumptuous character of the apartment
in which the meal was served. There were choice flowers in profusion
upon the table; a fire burned cosily in the handsome fireplace; and the
table was brilliantly illuminated by handsome, softly shaded electric
candelabra of massive silver.

The finishing touch to the enjoyment of the meal was given by Mrs
Vansittart's charming manner and sparkling conversation. For the moment
we were not her servants but her welcome guests, and she contrived to
make us feel this without the faintest suggestion of condescension. She
was both brilliant and witty, and in some subtle manner peculiar to
herself she not only put us perfectly at our ease, but also put us upon
our mettle, so that I at least found myself saying clever things of
which I had not before believed myself in the least capable.

It was all so very different from what I had hitherto been accustomed to
that I could scarcely persuade myself I was not dreaming some splendid
and unusually vivid dream; and I heartily congratulated myself upon the
lucky chance which had thrown me into the midst of such delightful
surroundings. The dinner, although smartly served, demanded
three-quarters of an hour for its consumption; and at its close our
hostess took wine with us all, nodded to her daughter, and, rising from
the table, retired to the drawing-room.

When the ladies disappeared, Monroe, Kennedy, and young Vansittart
resumed their seats, somewhat to my surprise; and a moment later Marsh
brought forward cigars, cigarettes, and a jar of choice tobacco. I had
been picked for the first mate's watch, and it was our eight hours out
that night, consequently by rights I ought to have been on deck at that
moment; therefore, as soon as Mrs Vansittart and her daughter vanished,
I turned to Kennedy and said:

"If you gentlemen will excuse me, I'll run away and change, and go on
deck. I am in your watch, you know, Mr Kennedy, and ought to be on
duty now--"

"Bring yourself to an anchor, me bhoy," interrupted Kennedy, pointing to
the chair alongside him. "Do ye shmoke? No? Quite right; shmoking is
very bad for growing lads," with a glance at Master Julius, who was
coolly lighting a cigarette. "If ye don't shmoke ye can at least sit
and listen to Mr Monroe's and my illuminatin' conversation until it's
time for us to join the ladies.