noon
In spite of the unavoidable racket , no one stirred : he surmised that the curate slept soundly after the crises of the day . He left the engine by the doorstep , pinning a note to the steering-wheel . It said : TO REV. J. ROVER POODLE this useful steam-roller as a symbol of the theological mind MR. GISSING The steamship Pomerania , which had sailed at noon , was a few hours out of port on a calm gray sea . The passengers , after the bustle of lunch and arranging their staterooms ; had settled into their deck chairs and were telling each other how much they loved the ocean . Captain Scottie had taken his afternoon constitutional on his private strip of starboard deck just aft the bridge , and was sitting in his comfortable cabin expecting a cup of tea . He was a fine old sea-dog : squat , grizzled , severe , with wiry eyebrows , a short coarse beard , and watchful quick eyes .