The ship's a-going along at present, as sensible as a ship can, sir; though I don't mean to say as that's any very high praise.' 'I don't think it is, indeed,' groaned Martin.
'You'd feel all the better for it, sir, if you was to turn out,' observed Mark.
'And be seen by the ladies and gentlemen on the after-deck,' returned Martin, with a scronful emphasis upon the words, 'mingling with the beggarly crowd that are stowed away in this vile hole.

I should be greatly the better for that, no doubt.' 'I'm thankful that I can't say from my own experience what the feelings of a gentleman may be,' said Mark, 'but I should have thought, sir, as a gentleman would feel a deal more uncomfortable down here than up in the fresh air, especially when the ladies and gentlemen in the after-cabin know just as much about him as he does about them, and are likely to trouble their heads about him in the same proportion.

I should have thought that, certainly.' 'I tell you, then,' rejoined Martin, 'you would have thought wrong, and do think wrong.' 'Very likely, sir,' said Mark, with imperturbable good temper.

'I often do.' 'As to lying here,' cried Martin, raising himself on his elbow, and looking angrily at his follower.

'Do you suppose it's a pleasure to lie here ?' 'All the madhouses in the world,' said Mr Tapley, 'couldn't produce such a maniac as the man must be who could think that.' 'Then why are you forever goading and urging me to get up ?' asked Martin, 'I lie here because I don't wish to be recognized, in the better days to which I aspire, by any purse-proud citizen, as the man who came over with him among the steerage passengers.