"'Aback.'"
"That is nothing we want," remarked Christina.
"Oh yes, I think it is. It is 'the situation of the sails when their surfaces are flatted against the masts by the force of the wind.' I do not understand, though. The sails are said to be 'taken aback.'— Oh, I have heard mother say that. What could she mean? I have heard her say she was taken aback."
"I have heard people say that too," said Christina; "often. I never knew what they meant. Something disagreeable, I think."
"Well, you see," said Dolly, reading further, "it 'pushes the ship astern'—what's that? 'See Backing.' I suppose it means pushing it back. But I don't understand!" the little girl added with a sigh.
"Oh, well! we don't care about all that," said Dolly's companion. "Go on to something else. Find out about the midshipmen."
"What about the midshipmen?"
"Nothing,—only I would like to know what they are. Madeleine said they were young officers; very young; not older than some of us."
"Then why do you want to know about them?" said Dolly. "We have nothing to do with young officers. We don't know any of them."
"But we might," suggested Christina. "We shall see them, if we go on board the ship."