"I hope you are feeling better to-day, sir." "I am feeling very well to-day, except that I have started a cold in the head," replied Christy, astonished at this display of interest in the state of his health.
"I am glad to hear it, sir, for you appeared to be quite sick last night when you came on board," added the quartermaster.
"Did I, indeed?
I was not aware of it.

I came on board last night?
I was not aware of that fact," said Christy.
The petty officer did not hear his remarks, for he had been called by the second lieutenant in the waist, and, with a touch of his cap, hastened away.

The lieutenant opened his eyes very wide, as he looked down at the seams in the deck, and wondered whether he were asleep or awake.

He had been quite sick, and he had come on board the night before! It was very strange that he was not at all aware of either of these facts.

He felt reasonably confident that he had slept in his own chamber at Bonnydale the night before, and at that time he was certainly in a very robust state of health, however it might be at the present moment.