But this afternoon things came to a head. Laura was trotting about behind him, striking her attitudes. Edward had at last discovered which was windward and which was leeward, and had come hotfoot to learn the first of the Sovereign Rules of Life: and Emily, with one of her wretched lapses of memory, was all agog at his elbow.

Edward was duly catechised and passed.

“Dis is the first rule,” said the captain: “ Never throw anything to windward except hot water or ashes. ”

Edward’s face developed exactly the look of bewilderment that was intended.