“Take that advice and you may, if you attend well to your studies in navigation, become a respectable officer. Life is not all play, my lad, so think that one of these days you will be going up for your examination to pass for lieutenant. Don’t waste your time, and find yourself, when a call is made upon you, perfectly helpless and be turned back. It will be years first, but years soon spin round. There, I think that is all I have to say.”
“Frightened me nearly into fits, and only wanted to say that,” thought Sydney.
“No. Just another word. You think me a very gruff, fault-finding fellow, don’t you?”
Sydney was silent.
“I asked you, Mr Belton, if you did not find me a very severe officer. Why don’t you answer?”
“Told me not, sir.”
“Humph! Yes; I did. But you may answer now. You do find me very severe?”
“Yes, sir; very.”
“And you don’t like me?”
“No, sir.”