"Servant, Doctor Gentian--so you've met your passenger?--good, sir. You'll find him a bit broadened out since he started to voyage with us--none of your night-sweats now, eh, Mr. Beard?--and if you could have seen him set to his victuals after the first natteral squeamishness, sir--By God, the first day out, I thought he'd puke the very anchor up--but after that--" Andrew felt with abhorrence that his ears were reddening, but Dr. Gentian saved him. "The sea plays odd tricks on the best of us," he said easily, "I have seen an Admiral of the Blue hold his head in his cabin and wish himself a turnip-patch back on land--the first day out." He turned to Andrew, "I am glad to hear our good captain is so excellent a victualler. Do you snuff, Mr. Beard?" "Thank you, sir," said Andrew gratefully, his fingers fumbling at fine rappee in a gold-and-tortoise shell box. The little act somehow set himself and Dr. Gentian apart from the effusive Captain in a world where the immodest allusions of such captains to nausea and victuals were the permitted liberties of old family servants. "A weakness of mine, I fear," sighed Dr. Gentian, after an elegantly-managed sneeze. Andrew's sneezes had been far less elegant but he noted gratefully that Dr. Gentian had not been critical. Now, though, he grew a little brisk. "But we must have you ashore, Mr. Beard, as soon as may suit your convenience. Have you breakfasted?" "Not yet," said Andrew, suddenly conscious that he wished to very much. Dr. Gentian put his palms together softly. "Excellent. Then you must do me the honor of breakfasting with me at Judge Willo's--we must set out for New Sparta, tomorrow, I fear, but meanwhile it is only fit you should meet some of the gentry of the town. Perhaps Captain Stout would favor us, also--" "Thankee, Doctor." Somehow the captain had deflated in the last few minutes and seemed awkwardly aware of it. "But I shan't get ashore much before noon, you know--" "You deprive us of a pleasure, I assure you." The Doctor was smiling again, "Mr. Beard, I venture to hope, will not be so harsh." "Delighted--certainly--Doctor Gentian," stammered Andrew confusedly, "but--my luggage--" "I am sure our good captain can send what you find most necessary with us--the heavier luggage can follow later. I have already settled for the services of a barber for you, in case you should need him. A sea-voyage is always trying to one's razors. If there is anything else--you have only to command me--I have a little business to transact with the captain--but if you could be ready to go ashore with your small baggage in half an hour--Your servant till then, sir." "Yours," said a slightly bewildered but flattered Andrew, and stumbled down below to strip himself hastily of the glazed hat in which he had taken such pride and to thank his stars that he had abandoned the transient idea of having the bosun tattoo the Royal Arms of Great Britain in blue across his chest. 4.