But before placing it on the table, our worthy cabin-boy took each plate and glass separately, and polished it on a towel which hung near, and in colour certainly rather resembling the dingy floor of the cabin than the bight-hued rainbow.

This could still have been endured, but the article in question really did duty _as a towel_ in the morning, before extending its salutary influence over plates and glasses for the remainder of the day.
On making discoveries such as these, I would merely turn away my eyes, and try to think that perhaps _my glass_ and _my plate_ would be more delicately manipulated, or probably escape altogether; and then I would turn my whole attention to the expected dishes.
First came soup; but instead of gravy-soup, it was water-soup, with rice and dried plums.

This, when mingled with red wine and sugar, formed a most exquisite dish for Danish appetites, but it certainly did not suit mine.

The second and concluding course consisted of a large piece of beef, with which I had no fault to find, except that it was too heavy for one in my weak state of health.

At supper we had the same dishes as at dinner, and each meal was followed by "tea-water." At first I could not fancy this bill of fare at all; but within a few days after my convalesence, I had accustomed myself to it, and could bear the sea-diet very well.