It seemed pretty evident that none of the Chinese lived anywhere near us, for not one passed during the whole day.
Then we talked of England, and somehow or other I mentioned Fareham.
"That is where your cousin lives, is it not?" he asked.
"Milly? Why, do you know old Milly?" I said.
"Well, just slightly." (I had a faint suspicion that he looked a little red in the face.) "I met her at a dance in Southsea. Don't go often to that kind of thing—make an awful mess of dancing, Glover, so generally stay away—but I had to go to this one, and met your cousin. Had one or two dances with her."
"Isn't she a perfect ripper?"
"She was extremely forbearing with me," he smiled, "and when I trod on her toes did not seem to mind a little bit."
"I should not be here if it had not been for her," I told the Commander.
"I rather think she got her father the Admiral to put in a good word for me too," he replied.
"Do you really?" I said, and remembered that Mr. Pattison had told me the same.