nd the table was mapped out with ominous-looking
frames of wood for the confinement of plates and glasses. The bride came
down gorgeously attired in a Parisian garb of mauve silk, cut square, but
looking slightly white and less secure of admiration than she had in the
morning.

"That is not a very serviceable dress for a sea voyage," whispered
Bluebell's neighbour, seriously. A few remarks had already passed between
them, and she had discovered him to have large, demure, brown eyes, that
never appeared to notice anything except for the gleams of secret
amusement that occasionally danced in them. "It quite sets my teeth on
edge seeing those stewards tilting the soup close to and trampling on
it."

"She must be a bride, I suppose," returned Bluebell, "and has so many new
dresses, she doesn't care about spoiling one or two."

"Heavens! what a view of matrimony! And these are the reckless opinions
of young ladies of the present day! Why, Miss Leigh, the greater part of
my great-grandmother's _trousseau_ still exists in an old trunk; and my
cousin Kate went to a fancy ball in her tabinet paduasoy, which was as
good as new."

"How tired they must have got of their things! I should like to have a
new dress every day of my life, and a maid to take away the old ones,"
cried Bluebell recklessly.

"How much does a dress cost--making, trimming, and all."

"Oh, some would be simple and inexpensive, of course--say, on an average,
L6 all round."

"That would be more than L1,800 a year, without counting Sundays. You'll
have to marry in the city, Miss Leigh."

"I shall have to make L30 a year supply my wardrobe--and earn it,"
returned she, lightly.

This admission did not lower her in the estimation of the chivalrous
young sailor, for such he was, though it cooled the already slight
interest taken in her by the portly lady on the other side.

Mrs. Oliphant, who had made acquaintance with everybody, was gabbling
away with her accustomed volubility.

"Oh, my dear Mrs. Rideout, have you tasted this _vol-au-vent_? You really
_should_. I have got the bill of fare" (with girlish elation). "There's
fricandeau of veal, calf's-head collops, tripe _a_--" here she stopped
short, confused at the shocking word.

Bluebell and the young lieutenant had arrived at sufficient intimacy to
exchange a merry glance.

In the mean time, the bride was enacting the pretty spoiled child, and
resisting the solicitations of her husband--a spoony-lo