“And you too, Mr Oldfield?”
“Well, I am at present,” replied the other, colouring; “and I hope to continue so.”
“Ah, then, I suppose you’ve never signed the pledge.”
“No; more’s the pity.”
“Oh, Mayster Frank,” interposed Jacob, “you promised me, when you were so ill, as you’d sign when you got better.”
“And so I will; but it’s no use signing for the first time now, when I’m going home in a total abstinence ship. I’ll join some society at home. Our good rector’s, for instance. Yes; I’ll join his, and my name and example will be really of some use then.”
“Excuse me, Mr Oldfield, pressing you on the subject, but I hope you’ll allow me the privilege of an old friend,” said the captain. “I feel so very strongly on the matter. I’ve seen so very much mischief done from putting off; and if a thing’s worth doing, it’s worth doing at once; take my advice—‘There’s no time like the present;’ ‘Never put off till to-morrow what you can do to-day;’ these are two good proverbs. I’ve found them of immense value in my line of life.”
“Yes; they’re very good proverbs, no doubt,” said Frank, laughing; “but there are some as good, perhaps, on the other side, though you won’t think so; for instance, ‘Second thoughts are best,’ and ‘Better late than never.’”
“True, Mr Oldfield; but ‘late’ often runs into never.”
Frank made a gay, evasive reply, and turned hastily away, leaving Jacob to arrange some matters in his cabin, while he went himself on shore.