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breakwater； and she stood out to sea under swiftly…swelling canvas
and a light north…westerly breeze。
Staines only felt the motion： his body was in the ship； his soul
with his Rosa。 He gazed； he strained his eyes to see her eyes； as
the ship glided from England and her。 While he was thus gazing and
trembling all over； up came to him a smart second lieutenant； with
a brilliant voice that struck him like a sword。 〃Captain's orders
to show you berths； please choose for Lord Tadcaster and yourself。〃
The man's wild answer made the young officer stare。 〃Oh； sir！ not
nowtry and do my duty when I have quite lost hermy poor wifea
childa mothertheresiron the stepsthere！there！〃
Now this officer always went to sea singing 〃Oh be joyful。〃 But a
strong man's agony； who can make light of it？ It was a revelation
to him； but he took it quickly。 The first thing he did； being a
man of action； was to dash into his cabin； and come back with a
short； powerful double glass。 〃There！〃 said he roughly； but
kindly； and shoved it into Staines's hand。 He took it； stared at
it stupidly； then used it； without a word of thanks； so wrapped was
he in his anguish。
This glass prolonged the misery of that bitter hour。 When Rosa
could no longer tell her husband from another； she felt he was
really gone； and she threw her hands aloft； and clasped them above
her head； with the wild abandon of a woman who could never again be
a child； and Staines saw it； and a sharp sigh burst from him； and
he saw her maid and others gather round her。 He saw the poor young
thing led away； with her head all down； as he had never seen her
before； and supported to the inn； and then he saw her no more。
His heart seemed to go out of his bosom in search of her； and leave
nothing but a stone behind： he hung over the taffrail like a dead
thing。 A steady foot…fall slapped his ear。 He raised his white
face and filmy eyes； and saw Lieutenant Fitzroy marching to and fro
like a sentinel； keeping everybody away from the mourner； with the
steady； resolute； business…like face of a man in whom sentiment is
confined to action； its phrases and its flourishes being literally
terra incognita to the honest fellow。
Staines staggered towards him； holding out both hands； and gasped
out； 〃God bless you。 Hide me somewheremust not be seen SOgot
duty to doPatientcan't do it yetone hour to draw my breath
oh； my God； my God！one hour； sir。 Then do my duty； if I dieas
you would。〃
Fitzroy tore him down into his own cabin； shut him in and ran to
the first lieutenant； with a tear in his eye。 〃Can I have a
sentry； sir？〃
〃Sentry！ What for？〃
〃The doctorawfully cut up at leaving his wife： got him in my
cabin。 Wants to have his cry to himself。〃
〃Fancy a fellow crying at going to sea！〃
〃It is not that； sir； it is leaving his wife。〃
〃Well； is he the only man on board that has got a wife？〃
〃Why； no； sir。 It is odd； now I think of it。 Perhaps he has only
got that ONE。〃
〃Curious creatures； landsmen；〃 said the first lieutenant。
〃However； you can stick a marine there。〃
〃And I say； show the YOUNGSTER the berths； and let him choose； as
the doctor's aground。〃
〃Yes； sir。〃
So Fitzoy planted his marine； and then went after Lord Tadcaster：
he had drawn up alongside his cousin； Captain Hamilton。 The
captain； being an admirer of Lady Cicely； was mighty civil to his
little lordship； and talked to him more than was his wont on the
quarterdeck； for though he had a good flow of conversation； and
dispensed with ceremony in his cabin； he was apt to be rather short
on deck。 However； he told little Tadcaster he was fortunate； they
had a good start； and； if the wind held； might hope to be clear of
the Channel in twenty…four hours。 〃You will see Eddystone
lighthouse about four bells；〃 said he。
〃Shall we go out of sight of land altogether？〃 inquired his
lordship。
〃Of course we shall； and the sooner the better。〃 He then explained
to the novice that the only danger to a good ship was from the
land。
While Tadcaster was digesting this paradox； Captain Hamilton
proceeded to descant on the beauties of blue water and its fine
medicinal qualities； which； he said； were particularly suited to
young gentlemen with bilious stomachs； but presently； catching
sight of Lieutenant Fitzroy standing apart； but with the manner of
a lieutenant not there by accident； he stopped； and said； civilly
but smartly； 〃Well； sir？〃
Fitzroy came forward directly； saluted； and said he had orders from
the first lieutenant to show Lord Tadcaster the berths。 His
lordship must be good enough to choose； because the doctor
couldn't。
〃Why not？〃
〃Brought to； sirfor the presentbywell； by grief。〃
〃Brought to by grief！ Who the deuce is grief？ No riddles on the
quarter…deck； if you please； sir。〃
〃Oh no； sir。 I assure you he is awfully cut up； and he is having
his cry out in my cabin。〃
〃Having his cry out！ why； what for？〃
〃Leaving his wife； sir。〃
〃Oh； is that all？〃
〃Well； I don't wonder；〃 cried little Tadcaster warmly。 〃She is；
oh； so beautiful！〃 and a sudden blush o'erspread his pasty cheeks。
〃Why on earth didn't we bring her along with us here？〃 said he；
suddenly opening his eyes with astonishment at the childish
omission。
〃Why； indeed？〃 said the captain comically； and dived below；
attended by the well…disciplined laughter of Lieutenant Fitzroy；
who was too good an officer not to be amused at his captain's
jokes。 Having acquitted himself of that dutyand it is a very
difficult one sometimeshe took Lord Tadcaster to the main…deck；
and showed him two comfortable sleeping…berths that had been
screened off for him and Dr。 Staines； one of these was fitted with
a standing bed…place； the other had a cot swung in it。 Fitzroy
offered him the choice； but hinted that he himself preferred a cot。
〃No； thank you；〃 says my lord mighty dryly。
〃All right；〃 said Fitzroy cheerfully。 〃Take the other； then； my
lord。〃
His little lordship cocked his eye like a jackdaw； and looked
almost as cunning。 〃You see；〃 said he； 〃I have been reading up for
this voyage。〃
〃Oh； indeed！ Logarithms？〃
〃Of course not。〃
〃What then？〃
〃Why； 'Peter Simple'to be sure。〃
〃Ah； ha！〃 said Fitzroy； with a chuckle that showed plainly he had
some delicious reminiscences of youthful study in the same quarter。
The little lord chuckled too； and put one finger on Fitzroy's
shoulder； and pointed at the cot with another。 〃Tumble out the
other side； you knowslippery hitchescords cutdown you come
flop in the middle of the night。〃
Fitzroy's eye flashed merriment： but only for a moment。 His
countenance fell the next。 〃Lord bless you；〃 said he sorrowfully；
〃all that game is over now。 Her Majesty's ship！it is a church
afloat。 The service is going to the devil； as the old fogies say。〃
〃Ain't you sorry？〃 says the little lord； cocking his eye again like
the bird hereinbefore mentioned。
〃Of course I am。〃
〃Then I'll take the standing bed。〃
〃All right。 I say； you don't mind the doctor coming down with a
run； eh？〃
〃He is not ill： I am。 He is paid to take care of me： I am not paid
to take care of him；〃 said the yo