“She will be better if she can sleep,” replied Scoble. “The best thing in the world for her would be to get up and go on deck if she feels able to do so.” “She is not ready for that yet, Captain Scoble.” “Scoble again!” exclaimed the master; and the passenger understood why he was so anxious to resume his former name, for he desired above all things in the world to effect a reconciliation with Mrs. Belgrave. “May I ask you as a favor, Louis, to call me Captain Farrongate?” “I am sorry it is not in my power in this matter to oblige you,” replied the young man with courtly dignity. “Excuse me, but your mate called you by your right name, and you did not notice the fact till he had addressed you so half a dozen times; all of which goes to show that you have been called by your proper name on your voyage to this country.” “You were always a bit of a lawyer, Louis, my son,” said Scoble, laughing, evidently because he could see no way out of the dilemma. “We won’t jaw any more about it just now, though it will be necessary for me to pick up the point again at another time. Dinner is ready, my boy; sit down and make yourself entirely at home.” “I thank you, Captain Scoble; I am sorry that I cannot join you. I have already lunched, and that will pass for dinner to-day,” replied Louis, still retaining his admirable self-possession. “If you have lunched, you must have done so very early, and it is time for you to eat again. Sit down and take a slice of ham, which is better than most of the ham you get in America.” “I can most cheerfully testify that this particular one is an excellent ham, for I made a very hearty lunch off of it. By the way, Captain Scoble, where do you buy your hams?” asked Louis in an every-day, matter-of-fact tone and manner. “This is a Scotch ham, and I bought a large supply of them in Southampton. The shop is just above the arch in the old court building; you can easily find it, and buy a stock for yourself. I can assure you there are no better hams in the world, though the French hams are very good,” said Scoble, trying to keep even with his involuntary guest. “Thank you, Captain Scoble. I judge that the Maud is bound to Southampton, and I may step into the shop you mention and buy a supply of hams. It will at least enable me to save my bacon out of this scrape.” “Oh, yes; you can get as good bacon as hams at that place,” laughed Scoble. “I am very glad to learn that you made yourself at home on board of my vessel, and helped yourself when you were hungry, just as you did in the old house. But you had better sit down and take a cup of coffee, if nothing more; for I can say that Bickling makes almost as good coffee as your mother did when we all lived together.” “Thank you, Captain Scoble; I will accept your invitation to that extent,” replied Louis, as he seated himself opposite the master. “We did not have any coffee at our lunch, and I have found that it goes very well at sea.”