Before breakfast was over they were joined by others of their
fellow-passengers, whom they had not seen since the first day out.

Among the rest was a certain Dr. Kerr, a learned savant, professor
in the University of Glasgow, who had been on a scientific mission
to the United States, and was returning home. He was a tall, thin
old gentleman, in a long, black velvet dressing-gown and a round,
black velvet skullcap. And he entered readily into conversation with
our party on the subject of the late gales, and from that diverged
into the subject of meteorology. There were no ladies present at
breakfast.

The whole party soon adjourned to the deck, and notwithstanding the
fog, enjoyed the pleasure of a promenade and conversation as they
only can who have been deprived of such privileges for many days.

At dinner the long absent ladies reappeared; among the rest, the
wife and daughters of the Scotch professor; and with the freedom of
ocean steamer traveling, all well-dressed and well-behaved first-
cabin passengers soon became acquainted and sociable, if not
intimate.

Mrs. Dr. Kerr had happened to hear of Mr. Worth as one of the most
promising young barristers of the time; and finding him in the
company of Chief Justice Merlin, and approving him on short
acquaintance, and knowing that he was unmarried, and not knowing
that his heart, hand, and honor were irretrievably engaged, she
singled him out as a very desirable match for one of her four
penniless daughters, and paid such court to him as Ishmael, in the
honesty and gratitude of his heart, repaid with every attention.