"I hope you and the young lady are quite comfortable, Mr. Middleton," I said, bowing. "If there is anything in my power I can do to add to your comfort, I pray you to command me."
Purposely I avoided looking at Mary as I spoke, and yet I was conscious that her eyes were full upon my face. She stood a little apart from her grandfather, and her little foot was tapping the deck impatiently. Mr. Middleton acknowledged my salutation, and replied with a certain peevishness that is shared by the very old or the very young.
"The only thing that you can do is to redeem your promise, and set us on some vessel bound for Great Britain," he returned.
"I shall endeavor thus to redeem myself," I said. And then the two went below, leaving me leaning back against the boom with a leaden heart.
We were carrying a great square topsail, and kicking up a great smother forward that showed that we were travelling well. The man at the tiller was humming softly to himself, the crew were lolling forward, when I saw my First Lieutenant approach. I noticed from his expression that he wished to speak to me.
"Well, Mr. Chips," said I, "and what is it?"
"I beg your pardon, sir," he returned, "but hadn't you better take a squint at the sun and see where we are? It's near high noon."
I was in a quandary, for, as I have stated previously, I knew nothing of navigation—that is, the science of it.
"Well, Mr. Chips," I said, "do you suppose I don't know where I am?"
"The sextant is in the cabin, sir. But there is another thing," he added, touching his cap. "Would you mind calling me by my real name?"