"Must depend on them," said Sandie, laughing a little at her pretty confusion. "As I told you, there is often no other to be had. And a sailor cannot afford to change his course; he must see to it that he is right at first. Vacillation would be almost worse than anything."
"At that rate, sailors must get a very downright way with them."
"Perhaps. Are you afraid of it?"
"No," said Dolly demurely. "Are you a good sailor?"
Mr. Shubrick laughed out "Do you doubt it?"
"No, not at all," said Dolly, laughing a little herself. "Only you can do so many things—drawing, and speaking so many languages,—I wanted to know if you were good at that too."
"That is one of the necessities of my position, Dolly. A man who cannot sail a ship had better not try to command her."
"I wish you would tell me one thing," said Dolly wistfully.
"I will tell you anything."
"I wish you would tell me how you got your promotion. When I saw you first, you were a midshipman on board the 'Achilles.' Christina told me you had distinguished yourself in the war. How was it?"