"I was to have taken her for a drive this morning," said Hunt; "and a pretty sort of a man I shall look, not turning up."
"Never mind," said Gawthrop. "I was to have taken her out this afternoon."
Old Shadwell nodded gloomily.
"What 'ave I often told you about 'em, boys!" he said. "This proves it. A woman's like a cat with nine lives, and nine sorts of dispositions, and if she don't satisfy 'em with nine sort of man fool she ain't happy. I've know them as nine wouldn't satisfy. And they're all the same; there's different nations of men, but women is all one nation. You can bet your boots, you two fellers, that your girl is out with some one else. This here v'yge will do you good if it rams that into you."
He turned to the others.
"D'ye believe what this young feller has told you?"
They said they did. Shadwell turned again to Gawthrop.
"It's 'ard lines on men as is sailormen, and ships so short-'anded as they always is with greedy owners, to 'ave ship-mates as can't do their work. But you look bright, young feller, and if you skips quick and does your best, there ain't no reason as you shouldn't be some kind of use in the world before we're off the Horn. And I say the same to you over there."
"Go to the devil," replied Hunt sulkily.
"Sailormen don't go there. They goes to Fidler's Green," said Shadwell. "And mark me! Put the girl out of your minds. This was a put-up job, and she was in it. She'll marry this here Gardiner!"