“And defying his father and uncle—a dog!” cried the admiral. “Here, Liss; what do you think he says?”
“Bless me! I don’t know.”
“Why, confound him! says he wants to be a doctor.”
“Does he?” cried the new-comer, turning to look at Sydney. “Well, I’m not surprised.”
“But I am,” cried Captain Belton, angrily.
“And I’m astounded,” said the admiral. “A Belton descend to being an apothecary.”
“Ah!” said the doctor, dryly, as he held his glass up to the light, “terrible descent, certainly. Wants to save life instead of destroying it.”
“Now, look here, Liss,” began the admiral, fiercely.
“No, no, Tom, let me speak,” said Captain Belton. “No quarrelling.”
“No, you had better not quarrel,” said the doctor, good-humouredly. “Make you both ill, and then I shall have you at my mercy.”