Many a droll logomachy used to take place at dinner-time between little Scottie and this Killarney lad. All in fun, of course.
Young Bobbie, as he was called, delighted to tease Paddy O'Callaghan.
"Oh, don't give Paddy another morsel!" cried Bobbie one day at dinner, as the Irish boy passed his plate to sub-lieutenant Sidney Wickens for another slice of beef.
"And why not, you Dougal Crayture?"[[2]] cried O'Callaghan.
[[2]] The red-haired Highlander in Scott's tale of "Rob Roy".
"For your own sweet sake, Paddy. I really must look after you. Coming from a land of potatoes and buttermilk and—want and woe, over-indulgence in the roast beef of Old England might have serious consequences. Indeed, indeed it might."
"Want yourself! I hurl the insinuation back. Sure, it wasn't for want that I came here."
"No, Paddy, no,—because you had too much of that at home, you know."
And the laugh was all against poor Paddy this time.
When the plum-pudding came on that day, again Bobbie held up a warning finger.