“Yes, and of course I’m not much used to the sea, Captain Berriman,” said Mr Preddle, as he walked on by his side with legs rather widely apart, I following behind with Mr Brymer.
It seemed to me then that Mr Preddle was managing so as to get up to where Mr Denning sat with his sister, and the next minute they were abreast of them, and the captain said in his bluff way—
“There, Mr Denning, another of your fellow-passengers has found out the advantage of coming on deck.”
“Yes,” said Mr Preddle, hastily, as he took off his cap to Miss Denning, and then bowed to her brother. “So fresh and bright after the clo— clo— clo— Oh dear me!”
I was obliged to laugh, and though Mr Denning looked angry, I saw Miss Denning turn away to hide a smile, for the captain and Mr Brymer laughed as merrily as I did. And no wonder, for just as Mr Preddle was bowing and smiling and talking hurriedly, the ship gave another sudden lurch; he made a wild grasp at the captain, missed him; another at Mr Denning’s chair; and then sat down involuntarily on the deck, to look up ruefully at me, his eyes seeming to say, “Oh, how can you laugh!”
“All right, sir, not hurt, I hope?” said the captain, and he and the first mate helped our stout passenger to rise.
“No, not at all, thanks; sadly awkward though at first,” he said, rather piteously. “Mr Dale—would you mind?”
I hurriedly offered him my arm, and he gave a quick look round.
“A little weak and giddy,” he continued, with his eyes resting on Miss Denning, who held out her hand, and in a quiet sweet way, said—
“Yes, we have been rather unwell too. I turned quite giddy once.”