I inquired for the sleeping cabin, and found there was but one for both sexes.
I was told to apply to one of the officials, who would no doubt allow me to sleep somewhere else.

I did so, and obtained a neat little cabin in consequence, and the steward was kind enough to propose that I should take my meals with his wife.

I did not, however, choose to accept the offer; I paid dearly enough, Heaven knows, and did not choose to accept everything as a favour.
Besides, this was the first English steamer I had ever been on board, and I was curious to learn how second-class passengers were treated.
The company at our table consisted not only of the passengers, of whom there were three besides myself, but of the cooks and waiters of the first-class places, as well as of the butcher; or, in a word, of every one of the attendants who chose to take "pot-luck" with us.
As for any etiquette in the article of costume, that was entirely out of the question.

Sometimes one of the company would appear without either coat or jacket; the butcher was generally oblivious of his shoes and stockings; and it was really necessary to be endowed with a ravenous appetite to be enabled to eat anything with such a set.
The bill of fare was certainly adapted to the crew and their costume, but decidedly not to the passengers, who had to pay thirteen dollars (2 pounds 12s.) a day each for provisions.
The table-cloth was full of stains, and, in lieu of a napkin, each guest was at liberty to use his handkerchief.

The knives and forks had white and black horn handles, with notched blades, and broken prongs.