from the black night at last. "Here you are!" said the waterman, and instantly demanded six shillings.
"You ask too much," I said. He drew off from the vessel and swore he would not embark me till I paid it. A young man, the steward as I found afterwards, was looking over the ship's side; he grinned a smile in anticipation of the coming contest; to disappoint him, I paid the money. Three times that afternoon I had given crowns where I should have given shillings; but I consoled myself with the reflection, "It is the price of experience."
"They've cheated you!" said the steward exultantly when I got on board. I answered phlegmatically that "I knew it," and went below.
A stout, handsome, and showy woman was in the ladies' cabin; I asked to be shown my berth; she looked hard at me, muttered something about its being unusual for passengers to come on board at that hour, and seemed disposed to be less than civil. What a face she had—so comely—so insolent and so selfish!
"Now that I am on board, I shall certainly stay here," was my answer. "I will trouble you to show me my berth."
She complied, but sullenly. I took off my bonnet,
