"Must be guns."
"Well, I should like to go on board of a ship very much," said Dolly. "There are twelve guns on that side. If there are the same on this side, that would make twenty-four. What do they want so many for, Christina, on one ship?"
"Why, to fight with, of course. To fire at other ships."
"But what do they want of so many? They would not want to fire twelve at once. I should think one would be enough."
"Perhaps it wouldn't. Go on, Dolly, do! let us get to something else."
It was difficult to get Dolly on. She was held fast again by the description of a naval engagement; then fell to studying the directions for the "exercise" of the guns; then was interested in some plates giving various orders of the line of battle. At last in due course they came to the word "Midshipman," which was read, or the article under it, by both girls.
"'A naval cadet'"—repeated Christina.
"And a cadet must be four years at sea before he can become a lieutenant; and two years midshipman besides. I should think they would be tired of it."
"But if they are going to be sailors all their lives, it's no use for them to get tired of it," said Christina.
"They come on shore sometimes, don't they?"