rn his mind?" "The best way
for that, yer ladyship," says I, "is to let him go, if it was only the
length of the Nore. The sea'll turn his stomack for him, marm," I says,
"an' then we can send him home by a pilot." "He wanted for to go into
the navy," says the lady again, "but I couldn't think on that for a
moment, on account of this fearful war; an', after all, he'll be safer
in sailing at sea nor in the army or navy--don't you think so, my good
man?" "It's all you knows about it," thinks I; hows'ever, I said there
wasn't a doubt on it. "Is Captain Steel a rash man?" says she. "How so,
marm?" says I, some'at taken aback. "I hope he does not sail at night,
or in storms, like too many of his profession, I'm afeard," says she; "I
hope he always weighs the anchor in such cases, very careful." "Oh, in
course," says I, not knowin', for the life of me, what she meant. I
didn't like to come the rig over the poor lady, seein' her so anxious
like; but it was no use, we was on such different tacks, ye see. "O yes,
marm," I says, "Captain Steel al'ays reefs taups'ls at sight of a squall
brewing to wind'rd; and we're as safe as a church, then, ye know, with a
man at the wheel as knows his duty." "This relieves my mind," the lady
says, "very much; but I couldn't think why she kept sniffing all the
time at her smelling bottle, as she wor agoin to faint. "Don't take it
to heart so, yer ladyship," I says at last; "I'll look after the young
gentleman till he finds his sea-legs." "Thank you," says she; "but, I
beg your pardon, would you be kind enough for to open the winder, and
look out if you see Edward? I think he's in the garding. I feel sich a
smell of pitch and tar!" I hears her say to the girl; and says she to me
again, "Do you see Edward there?--call to him, please." Accordingly, I
couldn't miss sight of three or four young slips alongside, for they
made plenty of noise--one of 'em on top of a water-barrel smoking a
cigar; another singing out inside of it for mercy; and the rest roaring
round about it, like so many Bedlamites. "No wonder the young scamp
wants to go to sea," thinks I, "he's got nothin' arthly to do but
mischief." "Which is the young gentleman, marm?" says I, lookin' back
into the room--"Is it him with the cigar and the red skull-cap?" "Yes,"
says the lady--"call him up, please." "Hallo!" I sings out, and all runs
off but him on the barrel, and "Hallo!" says he. "You're wanted on deck,
sir," I says; and in five minut