"De Rooshian langwidge," he said, "I not can; but de Engleese mooch plenty, sare."
Dr. Reikie, who was there, guffawed. It was very rude. Fitzgerald turned red in the face, then he called the doctor a bear, and left the hotel.
But the doctor, or doctor's mate as some old tars on board would call him, was too good a fellow to take offence at being called a bear by young Tomfoozle; so at dinner that day he was extra civil to him, and asked him twice if he would have some more pudding. Dr. Reikie knew the mid's weakness, and what would soften his heart; so presently my lord smiled.
"I accept your apology, doctor," he said.
"Apology, Tomfoozle? I didn't make one."
"Oh yes, you did. You asked me twice to have pudding. Pudding and apology are—er—"
"Synonymous?"
"That's the word. I called you a bear to-day, doctor, but I meant a brick."
"Oh, he meant a brick, did he?" chimed in the A.P.*
* A.P. is the abbreviation for assistant-paymaster.