Men shouted angrily to stewards; women, laden with parcels, blocked the gangway, and appealed helplessly to every one for information and aid; sailors carried down trunks and portmanteaus; and Mrs.Holland, when she emerged from her cabin, having stowed away her belongings and made things tidy, congratulated herself on having been the first on board, and so had not only avoided all this confusion, but obtained a separate cabin, which she might not otherwise have been able to do, as the captain would have been too busy to devote any special attention to her.
After having handed her over to the care of the purser, Captain Barstow had spoken to the second officer, who happened to be passing.
"Mr.Rawlinson," he said, "this is the son of my old friend, Captain Holland.

He is going out with his mother.

I wish you would keep your eye upon him, and let him join the midshipmen in their studies with you, in the morning.

Possibly he may enter the Service, and it will be a great advantage to him to have got up navigation, a bit, before he does so.

At any rate, it will occupy his mind and keep him out of mischief.