“Mind your own business, sir,” cried the admiral, with mock rage. “Private instructions to our young officer. There, be off, Syd, before he begins to pump.”
The boy gladly escaped from the library, to dash up into his own room, and fling the money into a corner with a demonstration of rage, before sitting down, resting his chin upon his doubled fists, and staring straight before him.
“It’s all over,” he said at last. “I wanted to be a gentleman, and do what was right; but—Yes, it’s all over now.”
Just at the same time Captain Belton was speaking to his brother in the library.
“I’m sorry the boy took it like that, Tom,” he said. “I don’t like his sulky manner.”
“Bah! only a boy,” cried the admiral. “Chuffy because he can’t have his own way. Wait till he gets his cocked hat and his dirk.”
The old man chuckled and wiped his eyes.
“I haven’t forgotten the sensation yet, Harry. You remember too?”
“Oh yes, I remember,” said the captain, thoughtfully.
“Of course you do. I say, what a pair of young gamecocks we were. Why, I can remember now flourishing the tooth-pick about, with its blade half blue steel and a lion’s head on the hilt. Never you mind about Syd; the uniform will set him right.”