The steersman was pulling on his coat while he sought among the crowd the faces of his more familiar friends.

He was, it seemed, a privileged person, and took it for granted that he should go ashore with the captain.

He was, perhaps, one of those who seemed to be privileged at their birth by Fate, and pass through life on the sunny side with a light step and laughing lips.
Captain Clubbe was the first to step ashore, with one comprehensive nod of the head for all Farlingford.

Close on his heels the younger sailor was already returning the greetings of his friends.
"Hullo, Loo!" they said; or, "How do, Barebone ?" For their tongues are no quicker than their limbs, and to this day, "How do ?" is the usual greeting.
The Marquis de Gemosac, who was sitting in the background, gave a sharp little exclamation of surprise when Barebone stepped ashore, and turned to Dormer Colville to say in an undertone: "Ah--but you need say nothing." "I promised you," answered Colville, carelessly, "that I should tell you nothing till you had seen him.".