The Goldfinder There is no peculiar life more thoroughly apart from life in general, more unlike our usual life, more completely a life of itself, governed by its own rules and having its own roughnesses and amenities, than life on board ship.

What tender friendship it produces, and what bitter enmities! How completely the society has formed itself into separate sets after the three or four first days! How thoroughly it is acknowledged that this is the aristocratic set, and that the plebeian! How determined are the aristocrats to admit no intrusion, and how anxious are the plebeians to intrude! Then there arises the great demagogue, who heads a party, having probably been disappointed in early life,--that is, in his first endeavours on board the ship.

And the women have to acknowledge all their weaknesses, and to exercise all their strength.

It is a bad time for them on board ship if they cannot secure the attention of the men,--as it is in the other world; but in order that they may secure it, they assume indifference.

They assume indifference, but are hard at work with their usual weapons.