in my civilest tones, ‘Oh, never mind, Mr. Nan Carrol—no annoyance at all; only make it all safe. It’s a shocking night; don’t you think so?’
‘Rather rough,’ he said; and then came another man to say the first lieutenant’s cabin was full of water, and he wanted the carpenter.
In short, the sea is an ugly customer. But we had five days’ beautiful smooth sailing after this; and I hope this gale may count for our share of bad weather.
I have quite got over my sea-sickness on common occasions, and have been finishing up my Rio sketches; and now that I can draw and read, I am not so unhappy as I was. We are all very well; Mars is rheumatic at times, but is better now.
For fear I should not have time to add it at the Cape, I charge you to tell me quantities about the children: If Willy says, ‘How d’ye do, Lena?’ I shall like to know it; and mention Miss Ridley—in short, everything. Say what work you are about. I care about it all, and get lumps in my throat when I think of any of you; even that last pat on my shoulder which Robert gave me at Portsmouth I think
