"'May I help you to some tripe, Dalison?' This from another tormentor.
"'No, thank 'ee.'
"'A morsel of kidney or heart, Dalison?'
"'No, thank 'ee.'
"Then he would bang his fist on the table, shouting, 'None of your hoffals (offals) for me! Stooard, bring in a lump o' bread and the blue cheese!'"
After the rippling laughter ceased, the captain, cracking a walnut, continued:
"Chaff was much more common in the service in those days than it is now, and if a brother officer had any peculiarity, he was sure to catch it hot.
"Dr. R—— was a grumpy old surgeon that I was shipmate with. He was not only grumpy, but surly and uncongenial towards his fellows. He was generally a little late for breakfast, and on his entering the ward-room detested being talked to.
"Here was food for game, and as soon as he came in, every officer all round the table had a kind word and inquiry for him.
"'Oh, good-morning, doctor.'