“‘Depend upon it, they were all perfectly comfortable.’
“‘I might not like them the better for that, perhaps. Such a number of women and children have no right to be comfortable on board.’
“‘My dear Frederick, you are talking quite idly. Pray, what would become of us poor sailors’ wives, who often want to be conveyed to one port or another, after our husbands, if everybody had your feelings.’
“‘My feelings you see did not prevent my taking Mrs. Harville and all her family to Plymouth.’
“‘But I hate to hear you talking so like a fine gentleman, and as if women were all fine ladies, instead of rational creatures. We none of us expect to be in smooth water all our days.’
“‘Ah, my dear,’ said the Admiral, ‘when he has got a wife he will sing a different tune. When he is married, if we have the good luck to live to another war, we shall see him do as you and I, and a great many others, have done. We shall have him very thankful to anybody that will bring him his wife.’
“‘Ay, that we shall.’
“‘Now I have done,’ cried Captain Wentworth. ‘When once married people begin to attack me with—“Oh, you will think very differently when you are married,” I can only say, “No, I shall not,” and then they say again, “Yes, you will,” and there is an end of it.’
“He got up and moved away.
“‘What a great traveller you must have been, ma’am,’ said Mrs. Musgrove to Mrs. Croft.