“I shall, sir, as long as I live, if you play me false now.”
“Oh, uncle, what a shame!” cried the boy passionately. “Play you false! Who wants to play you false? I only wanted to tell you frankly that I felt a bit afraid of not being quite equal to the sea. I want to go, and I mean to go, and you oughtn’t to jump upon me like this, and call me Rodney.”
The boy stood before the doctor, flushed and excited, as he continued—
“You talk to me, uncle, as if you thought that I was a regular coward and afraid of the sea.”
“Then you shouldn’t make me, sir. Who was it said afraid? Why, you have been out with me for days together, knocking about, in pretty good rough weather too.”
“Yes, uncle, but that was all within sight of land.”
“What’s that got to do with it? It’s often much rougher close in shore, especially on a rocky coast, than it is out on the main.”
“I wish I hadn’t spoken,” cried Rodd passionately.
“So do I, sir.”
“I couldn’t help thinking I might turn very sick for days, and get laughed at by the crew and called a swab.”