uld have been sent on
board of my ship and cautioned against the bad habits of the natives of
North Corner and Barbican; and if I could not be admitted to the
mysterious conversation of a captain's table, I should have been told in
a clear and decided manner to depart, without the needless puzzle of an
innuendo which I did not and could not understand.

I returned on board about eight o'clock, where Murphy had gone before
me, and prepared a reception far from agreeable. Instead of being
welcomed to my berth, I was received with coldness, and I returned to
the quarter-deck, where I walked till I was weary, and then leaned
against a gun. From this temporary alleviation, I was roused by a voice
of thunder, "Lean off that gun." I started up, touched my hat, and
continued my solitary walk, looking now and then at the second
lieutenant, who had thus gruffly addressed me. I felt a dejection of
spirits, a sense of destitution and misery, which I cannot describe. I
had done no wrong, yet I was suffering as if I had committed a crime. I
had been aggrieved, and had vindicated myself as well as I could. I
thought I was among devils, and not men; my thoughts turned homeward. I
remembered my poor mother in her agony of grief on the sofa; and my
unfeeling heart then found that it needed the soothings of affection. I
could have wept, but I knew not where to go; for I could not be seen to
cry on board of ship. My pride began to be humbled. I felt the misery
of dependence, although not wanting pecuniary resources; and would have
given up all my prospects to have been once more seated quietly at home.

The first lieutenant came on board soon after, and I heard him relating
my adventure to the second lieutenant. The tide now evidently turned in
my favour. I was invited down to the gun-room; and having given
satisfactory answers to all the questions put to me, Flyblock was sent
for, and I was once more placed under his protection. The patronage of
the first lieutenant, I flattered myself, would have ensured me at least
common civility for a short time.

I had now more leisure to contemplate my new residence and new
associates, who, having returned from the duty of the dockyard, were all
assembled in the berth, seated round the table on the lockers, which
paid "the double debt" of seats and receptacles; but in order to obtain
a sitting, it was requisite either to climb over the backs of the
company, or submit to "high pressur