“Heavy weather, Madam Budd—only in heavy weather.”
“It is amazing to me, captain, how you seamen manage to weigh the weather. I have often heard of light weather and heavy weather, but never fairly understood the manner of weighing it.”
“Why we do make out to ascertain the difference,” replied the captain, a little puzzled for an answer, “and I suppose it must be by means of the barometer, which goes up and down like a pair of scales. But the time I mean we was a scuddin’ under a goose-wing foresail—”
“A sail made of goose’s wings, and a beautiful object it must be; like some of the caps and cloaks that come from the islands, which are all of feathers, and charming objects are they. I beg pardon—you had your goose’s wings spread—”
“Yes, Madam Budd, yes; we was steering for a Mediterranean port, intending to clear a mole-head, when a sea took us under the larboard quarter, gave us such a sheer to-port as sent our cat-head ag’in a spile, and raked away the chain-plates of the top-mast back-stays, bringing down all the forrard hamper about our ears.”
This description produced such a confusion in the mind of the widow that she was glad when it came to an end. As for the captain, fearful that the “goose’s wings” might be touched upon again, he thought it wisest to attempt another flight on those of Cupid.
“As I was sayin’, Madam Budd, friendship isn’t love; no, not a bit of it! Friendship is a common sort of feelin’, but love, as you must know by exper’ence, Madam Budd, is an uncommon sort of feelin’.”
“Fie, Capt. Spike, gentlemen should never allude to ladies knowing any thing about love. Ladies respect, and admire, and esteem, and have a regard for gentlemen; but it is almost too strong to talk about their love.”
“Yes, Madam Budd, yes; I dare say it is so, and ought to be so; and I ask pardon for having said as much as I did. But my love for your niece is of so animated and lastin’ a natur’, that I scarce know what I did say.”
“Capt. Spike, you amaze me! I declare I can hardly breathe for astonishment. My niece! Surely you do not mean Rosy!”