"Ladies first, world without end," said Dank. "Especially at sea."
"He was not persistent, sir. In fact he was hextraordinary subdued all the time he was hexplaining the situation to them. I could tell by the way his back looked, sir."
"Never mind, Hobbs. You ordered luncheon?"
"Yes, your 'ighness. Chops and sweet potatoes and—"
"But that's what we had yesterday, Hobbs."
A vivid red overspread the suddenly dismayed face of Hobbs. "'Pon my soul, sir, I—I clean forgot that it was yesterday I was thinking of. The young lady gave me such a sharp look, sir, when the 'ead waiter pointed at me that I clean forgot wot I was there for. I will 'urry back and—"
"Do, Hobbs, that's a good fellow. I'm as hungry as a bear. But no chops!"
"Thank you, sir. No chops. Absolutely, sir." He stopped in the doorway. "I daresay it was 'er beauty, sir, that did it. No chops. Quite so, sir."
"If Blithers were only here," sighed Dank. "He would make short work of the female invasion. He would have them chucked overboard."
"I beg pardon, sir," further adventured Hobbs, "but I fancy not even Mr. Blithers could move that young woman, sir, if she didn't 'appen to want to be moved. Never in my life, sir, have I seen—"