“Antics, sir?” cried Roberts. “Yes, sir—antics. I said antics,” cried the officer sharply, “so don’t repeat my words and force me to do the same. A boy’s a boy, sir, and a man’s a man. A good boy is a rarity on shipboard, but very valuable when you get him; and a good man—a really good man at sea is worth his weight in gold; but I detest a hobbledehoy who apes the man, and I generally look upon him as worthless. Don’t grunt, Mr Roberts. It’s disrespectful to your superior officer. You might very well follow the example of Mr Murray, who never resents reproof when he deserves it. There, you need not make that disparaging grimace. You might follow Mr Murray’s example in a good many things. Now, I am sure he would not have come and asked leave like you did. It must have been your idea alone.”
“I’m afraid I had as much to do with it as Roberts, sir,” said Murray frankly.
“More shame for you to have to own it, sir,” said the first lieutenant; “but I like you to own up all the same. Still, I don’t like two young fellows who are trying to impress their elders that they are men to be seizing every opportunity to prove that they are mere boys with all the instincts wide awake of children.”
“I’m very sorry, sir,” said Roberts again, this time very stiffly. “I am sorry I asked for permission.”
“I don’t believe you, Mr Roberts,” said the officer stiffly. “Now, both of you tell me this—are you perfectly efficient in your navigation?”
Roberts uttered a snort.
“No, sir,” said Murray, “of course not. I’m a long way off being perfect.”
“Then why in the name of common sense don’t you seize upon every opportunity to master that grand study, like a man, and not come bothering me like a little boy who wants to go out to the pond to catch tittlebats? I’m ashamed of you both.”
“It was only to have a little recreation, sir,” said Murray.
“What do you want with recreation, I should like to know? Do you ever see me running after recreation?”