"Ordinary seamen don't talk about having dinner in the evening," thought the surgeon. "Perhaps there's some truth in his assertion after all. I'll get him into the next ward; there are two of the 'Terrier' men there."
Nor was the doctor greatly astonished when, as the quaintly-garbed patient followed him into the ward, the men recognized their officer, stood up and smartly saluted.
"Well, Smith," said Terence, addressing a seaman-gunner by name, "how goes it?"
"Can't complain, sir. Got a proper whack in the ribs. 'Tain't much to grouse about. And how's yourself, sir, if I may make so bold as to ask? I seed the cap'n catch you as you pitched to starboard."
In a few minutes Terence was taken to the officers' ward. Here he was informed that his mother was waiting to see him. He wondered why. His condition was hardly serious enough for the medical authorities to send for her, so he settled the matter by going, just as he was, to the room where Mrs. Aubyn was waiting.
CHAPTER XVI.
THE FLOORING OF MR. McNAB.
Promptly discharged from hospital, Terence was given six days' leave—a period which he spent with his parent.
He thoroughly appreciated the brief spell of leisure. It was simply great to be able to turn in at night and sleep soundly till seven o'clock the next morning. There was no insistent voice of the messenger: "Please, sir, it's ten minutes to four, and your cocoa's ready;" no watch upon an exposed bridge in the cold dark hours of a winter's morning; no monotonous round of ship routine with the constant menace of being bumped upon a mine.