"But I wish to say, that though I have considered substantially the same plan several times, I should not now introduce it if you had not asked for it. The present is certainly the fairest plan, for it places all upon an absolute equality, and under it every officer is indebted entirely to his own merit for his position, and not at all to the favor of his instructors or his friends among the ship's company. A change, therefore, is more properly inaugurated by you than by me. "I am informed by the committee that the vote was not unanimous, and one member of the committee did not choose to appear with the delegation." "He was notified of the meeting of the committee," said De Forrest. "I was notified," replied Scott; "but the meeting of the committee was held in the after cabin, which I am not permitted to enter." The opposition applauded till the snap of the bell silenced them. "This does not look exactly like fair play, especially as Scott is supposed to represent the opposition to the change." "He was notified of the time when the committee would wait upon you, sir, in the main cabin, but he declined to attend," answered De Forrest. "If there was a preliminary meeting of the committee, he ought not to have been excluded from it," added Mr. Lowington. "Your proceedings must be revised, and the opposition must be heard." "Mr. Lowington, as a member of the committee, I withdraw all opposition," interposed Scott. "I do not know that you are authorized to do so," replied the principal; "but I am very glad to see this spirit of accommodation on your part." "I don't think the new plan is so fair as the old one; but I wish to have a fair trial of it. The new method was got up by the nobs in the cabin--" "The what?" inquired the principal, with a smile. "The nobs, sir." "If by an accident, or by any extra exertion on your part, you were elected to an office in the cabin, would you be a nob?" "Yes, sir." "Though you do not seem to use the word in an offensive sense, I prefer some other form of expression. You say that the plan was devised by the cabin officers." "Yes, sir." "But we consulted the seamen, and they agreed to the plan before the meeting. It would have been a unanimous vote if Scott had not got up an opposition just for the sake of a joke," said De Forrest, rather bitterly. "I opposed the thing in my own way, and I never agreed to it; but we all consent to it now." "Does any one object to it?" asked Mr. Lowington. Cantwell looked at Scott, but the latter shook his head. "If there is any objection, I desire to hear it now." No one offered any objection. "There being no opposition, with the understanding on my part that unanimous consent is given to the plan, I will adopt it--" Violent applause on the part of the officers and others interrupted the principal, which was silenced by a stroke of the bell.