more by flattery than by physic.  Having discovered that Miss Laura was not inclined to give up her gingerbread, he immediately acknowledged its virtues, but recommended that it should be cut into extremely small dice, and allowed, as it were, to melt away upon the tongue; stating, that her digestive organs were so refined and delicate, that they would not permit themselves to be loaded with any large particles, even of farinaceous compound.  Isabel Revel, who had been informed that Mrs Ferguson was on deck, expressed a wish to escape from the confined atmosphere of the cabin; and Dr Plausible, as soon as he had prescribed for Miss Laura, offered Miss Isabel his services; which, for want of a better, perhaps, were accepted.

The ship at this time had a great deal of motion.  The gale was spent; but the sea created by the violence of the wind had not yet subsided, and the waves continued still to rise and fall again, like the panting breasts of men who have just desisted from fierce contention.  Captain Drawlock hastened over to receive his charge from the hands of the medical attendant; and paying Isabel some compliments on her appearance, was handing her over to the weather-side, where Mrs Ferguson was seated, when a sea of larger dimensions than usual careened the ship to what the sailors term a “heavy lurch.”  The decks were wet and slippery.  Captain Drawlock lost his footing, and was thrown to leeward.  Isabel would most certainly have kept him company; and indeed was already under weigh for the lee-scuppers, had not it been that Newton Forster, who stood near, caught her round the waist, and prevented her from falling.

It certainly was a great presumption to take a young lady round the waist previous to any introduction; but, at sea, we are not very particular; and if we do perceive that a lady is in danger of a severe fall, we do not stand upon etiquette.  What is more remarkable, we generally find that the ladies excuse our unpolished manners, either upon the score of our good intentions, or because there is nothing so very impertinent in them, after all.  Certain it is, that Isabel, as soon as she had recovered from her alarm, thanked Newton Forster, with a sweet smile, for his timely aid, as she again took the arm of Captain Drawlock, who escorted her to the weather-side of the quarter-deck.

“I have brought you one of your protegees, Mrs Ferguson,” said Captain Drawlock.  “How do you feel, Miss Revel?”

“Like most young ladies, sir, a little giddy,” replied Isabel.  “I hope you were not hurt, Captain Drawlock; I’m afraid that you fell by paying more attention to me than to yourself.”

“My duty, Miss Revel.  Allow me to add, my pleasure,” replied the captain, bowing.

“That’s very politely said, Captain Drawlock,” replied Isabel.

“Almost too polite, I think,” observed Mrs Ferguson (who was out of humour at not being the first object of attention), “considering that Captain Drawlock is a married man, with seven children.”  The captain looked glum, and Miss Revel observing it, turned the conversation by inquiring—­“Who was that gentleman who saved me from falling?”