Cassall. Ferrier was strangely dumb in presence of Miss
Dearsley, but he made up amply for his silence when he was alone with
the men. Robert Cassall observed, however, that the youngster never
spoke of himself. Once or twice the old man delicately referred to
certain little matters which had occurred during the January gales--the
amputation, the rescue of Lennard, the rough trips from smack to smack,
the swamping of the small boat: but Ferrier was too eager for other
people's good; he had so utterly forgotten himself that he hardly
recognized Mr. Cassall's allusions. On the first evening at dinner Mr.
Cassall said: "Now, Marion, you and Miss Lena must stay with us. She's
not an orator like you; she was meant for a mouse, but you can do all
the talk you like. And now, gentlemen, let me lay a few statements
before you. I shall talk shorthand style if I can. First, I want Mr.
Ferrier to be our first medical director, and I wish him to take the
steamer on her first cruise. After that, if he likes to be a sort of
inspector-general, we can arrange it. Next, I want to draw some more
people into Mr. Fullerton's net. Excuse the poaching term. Mr. Ferrier
and Mr. Fullerton can teach us, and I wish to begin with a big party
here as soon as possible. After that, our young friend must go
crusading. I'll provide every kind of expense, and we'll regard his
engagement as beginning to-day if he likes. Next, I may tell you that I
have already arranged for men to work night and day in relays on both my
vessels--or rather your vessels.
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