"Then, Mr. Pillgrim, you will take care of our Prodigy; you will be excellent friends, I trust," said Kate, beginning very impulsively in her old way, and suddenly checking herself when her resolution to be "proper" interposed itself.
"What is the matter, Kate? Have you and Mr. Somers had a falling out?" demanded the commodore.
"O, no, father."
"You talk as though you had had a quarrel, and for a moment had forgotten to be savage."
"We have had no quarrel, pa," replied Kate, blushing. "I was going to be saucy, but ma says I must not be saucy, and I shall not be saucy any more. I only hoped the two gentlemen who are going to live together in the same ship would be good friends."
"Of course they will. Officers never quarrel."
"Perhaps they don't; but they are not always as good friends as I hope these gentlemen will be," laughed Kate.
"Perhaps he will be my friend for your sake, if he is not for mine," added Pillgrim.
"I do not wish that. I don't like to have anybody do anything for my sake, unless it be to take paregoric when I am sick."
"I trust I shall not be paregoric to him," said Pillgrim.