"Very true, my Lord," assented D----; "but I think King more ill than he looks, or says that he is; for he is fond of a drop, my Lord, like most of us, and that predilection tells when it comes."
"With this still weather," observed R----, "I suppose we cannot hope to reach Bergen for the next week."
"There is a slight tide, my Lord, the pilot says sets out the Fiord," D---- made reply; "and if so, the cutter would hardly take so long to drift the distance."
"It is nearly one hundred miles?" said R----, interrogatively.
"Nearly, my Lord," answered D----; "but I think the wind is edging round to the west. Let us see, my Lord;" and D---- turned round, and began to examine the barometer hanging up behind him, as well as a symparometer.
"It is very odd, my Lord," he continued, after a pause, "but the barometer is very low, and this symparometer as high as it can well be."
We rose to look at the glasses, and found them as D---- had stated; but it was not the first time we had observed this variation between the barometer and symparometer.
"That barometer must be out of order," said R----.
"I never saw this before, my Lord," answered D----, "and it would be difficult to say which is right, or which is wrong; but you may depend, my Lord, something is brewing."
We tapped the barometer, and coaxed the symparometer; but all to no purpose, and they both doggedly retained their relative indications one to the other. D---- had hitherto been guided entirely by the symparometer, for it was a very delicate and beautiful instrument, and never failed in foretelling a shower of rain, or squall of wind. It is remarkable, that when we got to the north of 60 degrees, the symparometer acted directly opposite to that plan for which it was intended; and instead of the declension of the oil being indicative of bad weather, and its ascension prognostic of fair weather, a direct contradiction to the movement of the barometer was the result. Let those who understand the matter account for the fact. The coldness of the climate could have had no influence, for the temperature differed not from that of England; and when we were cruising in the latitude of the Naze, this symparometer was most sensitive and correct in its action.