“Who may that be?”
“Our dashing young friend, Mr Bob Roberts.”
There was a bit of a scuffle here as the whole party burst into a roar of laughter.
“Oh, I beg your pardon, Roberts,” said the resident. “I did not know you were there.”
Bob Roberts felt red hot with shame and annoyance, as he made a rush and retreated from the group by whom his presence had been unperceived.
“I hope, Linton,” said Captain Horton, in command of the “Startler,” “that my youngster there has not been behaving impertinently to Miss Linton.”
“Not at all,” said the resident quietly; “both Mr Long and Mr Roberts have been full of respectful admiration for the young lady, who has sufficient common sense to behave to the silly young gentlemen as they deserve. It is all connected with the hair-brushing stage, and will, I have no doubt, help to make them both grow into fine manly young fellows by-and-by.”
“Why, I can see through the mill-stone now,” said the doctor, laughing.
“What mill-stone, doctor?”
“Why, I have been puzzling myself as to why it was those two boys were always squabbling together. I see now; they’re as jealous as can be. I say, Mr Linton, you ought not to bring such a bone of contention on board as that daughter of yours, and her cousin.”