Joshua ambled aft at a jog-trot, halted in front of the table, and, from sheer force of habit, removed his cap.
'Keep yer 'at on!' growled one of the ship's corporals in an undertone. 'You ain't a defaulter!'
The commander turned his face away to hide a smile, and Billings, covered with confusion and rather redder in the face than usual, resumed his headgear.
'Able Seaman Joshua Billings. Requests a turn o' week-end leaf out o' watch.'
'Has he got a substitute?'
'Yessir.'
'Why d' you want leave out of your turn?' the commander asked, eyeing the A.B. with a half-smile hovering round his mouth. 'You've been ashore a good bit lately, haven't you?'
'Yessir, I 'as,' Joshua answered, fidgeting. 'But ye see, sir, it's like this 'ere. I've got werry himportant business ashore 'ere, sir, an' I wants to git it fixed up.'
'What sort of business? Money, or something of that kind?'
'No, sir. 'Ardly that. It's ter do wi' a lady, sir—lady wot lives ashore 'ere an' keeps a sweet an' bacca shop wot sells noospapers. I'm—I'm'—— Joshua paused, licked his lips, and shifted his feet nervously.