Vessels' heads are apt to turn when steersmen do not attend to their business.
"Wot's that you're sayin' ?" demanded Coke, coming nearer, and looking her straight in the eyes.
"I heard every word of that interesting talk," she continued valiantly, though she was sensible of a numbness that seemed to envelop her in an ice-cold mist.

"I know what you arranged to do--so I have promised--to marry Mr.Bulmer--when the _Andromeda_--comes back----" A light broke on Coke's intelligence that irradiated his prominent eyes.

His heavy lips relaxed into a cunning grin, and he flicked the ash off the end of the cigar with a confidential nod.
"Oh, is _that_ it ?" he said.

"Artful old dog, Verity! But why in--why didn't 'e tell me you was comin' aboard this trip?
We 'aven't the right fixin's for a lady, so you must put up with the best we can do for you, Miss Yorke.

Nat'rally, we're tickled to death to 'ave your company, an' if on'y that blessed uncle of your's 'ad told me wot to expect, I'd 'ave made things ship-shape at Liverpool.