"It was a sheer accident.

He was taken by surprise.

In his place I would have emptied the whole dish." The chief steward smirked.

He did not know exactly what had happened; nevertheless, great though Sir John Tozer might be, the owner's daughter was greater.
"Certainly, miss, certainly," he agreed, adding confidentially:--"It _is_ rather hard on a steward to be sent aft, miss.

It makes such a difference in the--er--the little gratuities given by the passengers." The girl was tactful.