"Any communication that you may have to make, we shall be pleased to listen to, sir," I answered.
For the space of a minute the captain surveyed us from head to foot, as though hardly knowing whether to be pleased or offended at our dignity; but at length he exclaimed,—
"Who, in the devil's name, are you?"
"We are happy to say that we are Americans," rejoined Fred, straightening his muscular form, and looking as proud of the title as a senator just elected to congress.
"Blast it, that is not what I mean. Are you born gentlemen?" pettishly exclaimed the captain.
"No one can be born gentle, but every man an be a gentleman if he but studies the courtesies of life," remarked Fred.
"And have you so studied?" asked the captain, with a smile.
"All Americans study," replied Fred, "though perhaps no two are alike. We try to be civil and attentive to all, and those qualities will pass for good breeding all the world over."
"By heavens, you are right," cried the captain, with genuine English bluffness, "and I should have known better than to have thought you would have accepted of a bed at the station house. Come with me, and make my house your home. I assure you both a welcome."
"You will excuse us, but we made an engagement before we entered the city to stop at Smith's house, and we told him to rely upon our word."