"Why, of course?"
"Because it's so d——d reasonable that, being a nephew of mine, you can't possibly help it."
"Bravo, uncle! I had no idea you were so argumentative."
"Hadn't you, spooney; you'd be an ornament to the gun-room, you would; but where's the 'young lady' who is so infernal delicate—where is she, I say?"
"I will fetch her, uncle."
"Ah, do; I'll be bound, now, she's one of the right build—a good figure-head, and don't make too much stern-way."
"Well, well, whatever you do, now don't pay her any compliments, for your efforts in that line are of such a very doubtful order, that I shall dread to hear you."
"You be off, and mind your own business; I haven't been at sea forty years without picking up some out-and-out delicate compliments to say to a young lady."
"But do you really imagine, now, that the deck of a man-of-war is a nice place to pick up courtly compliments in?"