“She’s obstinate,” replied Jack.
“You appear to be so, at all events,” replied the captain. “Pray try once more.”
“I have it!” thought Jack, who tore off the last answer from his paper. “I gained five guineas by that plan once before.” He then handed the bit of paper to the passing captain: “I believe that’s right, sir,” said our hero.
“Yes, that is right; but could you not have said it instead of writing it, Mr Littlebrain?”
Jack made no reply; his little sweetheart pouted a little, but said nothing; it was an evasion which she did not like. A few seconds of consultation then took place, as a matter of form. Each captain asked of the other if he was perfectly satisfied as to Mr Littlebrain’s capabilities, and the reply was in the affirmative; and they were perfectly satisfied, that he was either a fool or a madman. However, as we have had both in the service by way of precedent, Jack was added to the list, and the next day was appointed lieutenant.
Our hero did his duty as lieutenant of the forecastle; and as all the duty of that officer is, when hailed from the quarterdeck, to answer, “Ay, ay, sir,” he got on without making many mistakes. And now he was very happy; no one dared to call him a fool except his uncle; he had his own cabin, and many was the time, that his dear little “South West and by West three-quarters West” would come in by the scuttle, and nestle by his side.
“You won’t see so much of me soon, dearest,” said she one morning, gravely.
“Why not, my soft one?” replied Jack.
“Don’t you recollect that the winter months are coming on?”
“So they are,” replied Jack. “Well, I shall long for you back.”