'Mr Whish, I trust you understand the invitation ?' 'I believe you, my boy!' replied the genial Huish.
'That is right then; and quite understood, is it not ?' said Attwater.
'Mr Whish and Captain Brown at six-thirty without fault--and you, Hay, at four sharp.' And he called his boat.
During all this talk, a load of thought or anxiety had weighed upon the captain.

There was no part for which nature had so liberally endowed him as that of the genial ship captain.

But today he was silent and abstracted.

Those who knew him could see that he hearkened close to every syllable, and seemed to ponder and try it in balances.

It would have been hard to say what look there was, cold, attentive, and sinister, as of a man maturing plans, which still brooded over the unconscious guest; it was here, it was there, it was nowhere; it was now so little that Herrick chid himself for an idle fancy; and anon it was so gross and palpable that you could say every hair on the man's head talked mischief.
He woke up now, as with a start.