“I am sure I do not know, dear. By the way, Mr. Daveling, how is that? Do they give any of the money to American orphans?”
“I believe not, madam. Subscriptions at concerts given on board British steamers are of course donated entirely to the Seamen’s Hospital or Orphanage of Liverpool.”
“Well, that doesn’t seem to be quite fair, does it? A great deal of the money is subscribed by Americans.”
“Yes, madam, that is perfectly true.”
“I should think that ten Americans cross on these lines for every one Englishman.”
“I am sure I do not know, madam, what the proportion is. The Americans are great travellers, so are the English too, for that matter.”
“Yes; but I saw in one of the papers that this year alone over a hundred thousand persons had taken their passage from New York to England. It seems to me, that as all of them contribute to the receipts of the concerts, some sort of a division should be made.”
“Oh, I have no doubt if the case were presented to the captain, he would be quite willing to have part of the proceeds at least go to some American seamen’s charity.”
“I think that would be only fair.”
Two young ladies, arm in arm, approach, and ask Mrs. Pengo how she is feeling to-day.