"Oh! You went into the house, then?"
"Yes, he gave me some cider, and drank some brandy himself for the flutters. He's not quite the shape for the flutters, cousin, is he? Looks pretty solid."
"And he made himself agreeable, eh? You told him who you were, I suppose?"
"Oh, yes! And he as good as said he was glad the Fury was getting ready for sea. Luscombe's getting a bad name for smuggling, it appears, and 'tis time some of us came along. Don't you think so, cousin?"
"Quite time, quite time!" replied Mr. Bastable. Jack fancied he caught a twinkle in his half-closed eyes. "Father and mother quite well, eh? And how long have you been a king's officer?"
"A couple of years, cousin. Of course I had to serve two years as a volunteer first; then two years ago I was put on the books of the Ariadne, second-rate frigate, Captain Bagot. Why on earth they transferred me to the Fury I can't tell—just as the Ariadne was going out to join Admiral Nelson's fleet, too. I call it disgusting."
"No doubt they thought you'd be more useful to the revenue. Well, your traps are coming after you, you said? Get off those boots and I'll introduce you to your cousins. I suppose they're your cousins, if I'm one. Ah! here's the first!"—as the door burst open, and a girl ran in. She wore a white muslin dress with a pink sash, and a chip hat was swinging on her arm. Seeing a stranger she stopped, and her cheeks flushed.
"Come, Kate," said her father, "this is your cousin, Mr. Midshipman Hardy, come to pay us a visit."
Kate Bastable made the formal little courtesy of those days, to which Jack returned his best bow.
"I came to tell you dinner is nearly ready, father," said the girl.