“No,” said Sir John quietly; “I shall not return to-night.”
Jack winced and looked troubled.
“Then as soon as it’s dusk, young gentleman, I’ll have the star lit up. It’s of no particular use except as a bow-light, but it looks mighty pretty, as good as the fireworks you’ve let off on fifth o’ Novembers many a time, I’ll be bound.”
“Ha! ha! ha!” roared the doctor, turning to Jack merrily.
“I!” cried the lad, impatiently, and giving the captain a scornful look; “I never let off a firework in my life.”
“I have,” said the captain dryly, “many a one, and made them too. But boys—some of ’em—are a bit different to what they were when I was young.”
“Oh, they’re the same as ever, captain,” said Sir John, smiling thoughtfully, as if in recollection of the past. “As a rule, a boy is a boy, but no rule is without an exception, you know.”
“That’s right, sir.”
“And my son has been delicate, and has always led a studious, indoor life.”
“Ah, I see, sir, and now you are going to let him rough it a bit, and make a man of him.”