“Speak for yourself.... And you in the rear there, stand at attention! What do you mean by lolling about in my cabin?” No answer was expected or given. “Who told you to come into my cabin? Get out of it. When I say ‘Come in,’ come in—not before.”
They withdrew, and Sentley knocked again.
“Come in.... Well? Don’t stand there like a dumb thing! What do you want, boy?”
“We’ve come on board to join, sir.”
“Will you speak for yourself? Now, report yourselves properly, one by one. What’s your name?”
“Sentley, sir.”
“Are you the senior?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Are these all the junior midshipmen? I thought we were to have six of you.”
“Two haven’t come off yet, sir.”