“How I should delight to sail with you, if my father would give me leave!” exclaimed Roger.
“If there were time, I should be happy to take you on board my ship and teach you to become a sailor, but I fear there is no time, as I must be away again as soon as the tide changes, for I am bound up to the further end of the Mediterranean, and you require certain suits of clothing and other articles which cannot be procured in a moment.”
“If you propose putting into Plymouth, the difficulty might be obviated,” said Roger, who looked much disappointed. “I could soon scrape such few things together as I require, for I care not much what I wear.”
“But you have not yet obtained your father’s sanction to your going, young gentleman, and it was only provided that he should give his permission that I offered to receive you on board my ship,” said the Captain.
“Thank you heartily, Captain Benbow,” said Mr Willoughby. “From the report I have heard of you through my friend Handscombe here, there is no man to whom I would more willingly confide my son, for he has set his heart on being a sailor; but, as you observe, he requires suitable clothing, and that cannot be procured forthwith; still, if you will give me intimation of your return to England, and are willing to take him on your next voyage, I will send him to the port at which your ship lies without fail.”
“I will do that,” said the Captain.—“So, Master Roger, you may look upon yourself as my future shipmate.”
Still Roger appeared much disappointed, as he had expected to go off at once.
“Cheer up, my lad,” said the Captain good-humouredly. “I will not fail to give notice of my arrival to your father.” The Captain evidently took compassion on the boy’s eagerness, for he added, “To show my readiness to take you, if your friends will undertake to collect such needful articles as you must have, I will agree to wait till a breeze springs up, which may not be for several hours to come.”
“Thank you, sir, thank you,” cried Roger, looking at his aunt and Mistress Alice, and then at his father and the Colonel, as much as to ask what they would do.
“If your father gives you leave, I will not say you nay,” observed the Colonel. “But I know nothing of the required preparations. Madam Pauline and Alice had better say what they and the maidens in the house can do in the course of a few hours.”