At this moment a door close beside which I was standing opened and Grace came out, followed by the kind lady, Mrs. Barstow. She had removed her hat and jacket, and was sweet and fresh with the application of such toilet conveniences as her sympathetic acquaintance could provide her with. Captain Parsons stared at her and then whipped off his tall hat. "This is better than the _Spitfire_, Grace," said I. "Oh, yes, Herbert," she answered, sending a glance of her fine dark eyes over the saloon; "but Mrs. Barstow tells me that the ship is going to New Zealand." "So she is, so she is," cried Captain Parsons, bursting into a laugh, "and if you like, Mr. Barclay and you shall accompany us." She looked at him with a frightened girlish air. "Oh, no, Miss Bellassys," said Mrs. Barstow. "Captain Parsons is a great humorist. I have made two voyages with him, and he keeps me laughing from port to port. He will see that you get safely home, and I wish that we could count upon arriving at Otaga as speedily as you will reach England." Just then a man in a camlet jacket entered the saloon--cuddy, I believe, is the proper word for it. He was the head steward, and Captain Parsons immediately called to him. "Jenkins, here. This lady and gentleman have not breakfasted; they have been shipwrecked, and wish to lunch. You understand? And draw the cork of a quart bottle of champagne. There is no better sea-physic, Miss Bellassys. I've known what it is to be five days in an open boat in the middle of the Indian Ocean, and I believe if even Mrs. Barstow had been my wife, I should not have scrupled to make away with her for a quart bottle of champagne." CHAPTER IX WE ARE MUCH OBSERVED Our lunch consisted of cold fowl and ham and champagne; good enough meat and drink, one should say, for the sea, and almost good enough, one might add, for a pair of love-sick fugitives. "How is your appetite, my darling?" said I. "I think I can eat a little of that cold chicken." "This is very handsome treatment, Grace. Upon my word, if the captain preserves this sort of behaviour, I do not believe we shall be in a great hurry to quit his ship." "Is not she a noble vessel?" exclaimed Grace, rolling her eyes over the saloon. "After the poor little _Spitfire's_ cabin! And how different is this motion! It soothes me after the horrid tumbling of the last two days."