to meet your requirements. Are you a large party?"

"Myself, my wife, my wife's sister--this young lady--two children, two
maids, and a nurse. My wife, I ought to explain, is at present an
invalid, and has been ordered a long sea-voyage; but, as her ailment is
chiefly of a nervous character, she is greatly averse to the idea of
meeting and associating with strangers; hence my desire to secure the
whole of your accommodation, should it prove suitable. Ah, a very
pretty, airy saloon," he continued, as I threw open the door and stepped
aside to permit my visitors to enter. "The whole width of the ship;
sidelights that we can throw open in the tropics, and admit the fresh
air. A piano, too, by Erard," as he opened the instrument and glanced
at the name. "_You_ at least would not be likely to find the voyage
tedious, Agnes, with an Erard within reach at any moment," turning to
the young lady who accompanied him. "And these, I presume, are the
state-rooms," opening the doors of one or two of the berths and glancing
inside.

"These are _some_ of them," I replied. "In addition to what you now
see, there are two family cabins." And, as I spoke, I opened the door
of one of them, and allowed my visitors to pass in.

"Capital, capital!" exclaimed the visitor, as he entered. "Really,
these two cabins are far and away more roomy and pleasant than the
ordinary berths, even in the big liners. Now, supposing that I make up
my mind to take the whole of your accommodation, captain, would you be
willing to have a door fitted in that partition? Because, in that
case," he proceeded, again addressing his sister-in-law, "I should
propose to have one of the cabins fitted up as a ladies' boudoir, into
which you and Emily could retire when so disposed."

"Yes, that would be very nice," assented the lady. "And perhaps Captain
Saint Leger would allow the piano to be placed there?"

I replied that I should be happy to do anything and everything in my
power to meet their convenience or make them comfortable.

"Very well," said the gentleman. "Now, Agnes, what do you think of
these cabins? Do you think Emily would like them, and find them
convenient?"

"I am sure she would," answered the young lady, confidently. "They are
much prettier than anything we have hitherto seen; and the two large
cabins, with those great windows looking directly out on to the sea, are
simply delightful."

"So I think," agreed the gentleman. "And now