The next day I was better, only there was a light feeling in my head. I went up on deck. The sun was shining. The wind blew, but the air was very refreshing. This is the fourth day out. I have been able to eat to-day. I am feeling very hungry. I find that all the boys have been obliged to keep their rooms, except George Howe, who is in the steerage. How fearful I am we shall have another night like _that_! How glad I shall be to see land again! The land is the place, after all. I wish I were sure we would have good weather, when we return. Your thoughtful son, Thomas Toby. P. S. Three days after. I am well now. I never felt so bright and happy in my life. The steward says that people are seldom sick twice during the same voyage. An ocean trip is just the thing, after all. There were a few rather odd characters among the passengers: among them a portly, self-satisfied Englishman, returning from a tour of the States, with an increased respect for fine old English society; a glib-tongued Frenchman, who was delighted with "Ze States,--deelightéd!" and whose talk was like a row of exclamation points; and a sentimental Italian fiddler, in very poor dress, going back to the beauties of Naples and the dreamy airs and skies of "Etalee." [Illustration: {TWO OF OUR FELLOW TRAVELLERS.}] Tommy Toby seemed to gravitate towards these people, when his sea-sickness was over. "I likes zis American poy," said the Frenchman. "Intelegent! Has ze activitee; agilitee; very great prom-ese!" "Our country must be very different from yours," said Tommy, one day. "Veery, veery different indeed! Wonderful countree,--delightful! What grand rivers! what waterfalls,--Niag-e-ra! what lakes! Room for all ze world! Hospitalitee for all ze nations!" "The Frenchman says our country is the most wonderful in all the world," said Tommy to the portly Englishman. The latter looked very solemn; seemed about to speak, then made a long pause as though the opinion he was about to utter was a very weighty one. "Poverty to riches, riches to poverty; now up, now down, but the animating principle always the same,--riches, riches. Wonderful people! progress! each one living to outdo the other. To-day an alderman, to-morrow in the penitentiary; to-day my Lady of Lynne, to-morrow John o' the Scales's wife!" Tommy had an idea of what his lugubrious acquaintance meant to say, though the latter's wisdom was rather above his intellectual stature. "We have no castles in America," said Tommy. "Castles! No; an American family could not keep a castle: it would be sold in five years for a mill." [Illustration: {A STEERAGE PASSENGER.}] Tommy's face was always very bright after talking with the Frenchman, but lengthened out during the interview with his English friend. He usually retired discomforted from the latter, to seek comfort in the steerage from the lively Italian's fiddle.