“But it will be dinner-time soon, sir, and I shall have to help wait at table. I couldn’t carry the soup or fish, sir. I couldn’t carry myself. What will the guv’nor say?”
“Ned, will you please to go!” said Jack with a groan.
“Certainly, sir; directly, sir; but I can’t move.”
“Nonsense!”
“Yes, sir, that’s what I thought about you, and that you’d only got to make a try; but it isn’t to be done.”
“Go away,” groaned Jack.
“Wish I could, sir. I oughtn’t to have come. It’s all through being so jolly cock-sure that I could do anything, and I can’t. Wish I was at home cleaning the plate. Oh, Master Jack, can you feel how the boat’s a-going on?”
“Yes, it’s dreadful,” sighed Jack.
“Is it going to be like this always, sir?”
“Don’t! pray don’t bother me. Can’t you see how ill I am?”