“We came in the Batavia—Cunard, you know. What kind of passage did you have?”

“Tolerably rough.”

“So did we. Captain said he’d hardly ever seen it rougher. Where are you from?”

“New England.”

“So’m I. I’m from New Bloomfield. Anybody with you?”

“Yes—a friend.”

“Our whole family’s along. It’s awful slow, going around alone—don’t you think so?”

“Rather slow.”

“Ever been over here before?”

“Yes.”