been brought up so carefully, they would
not have gone through all you have. That's my opinion, Mr Simple--
there's nothing like _blood_."

"I think, Mr Chucks, you carry your ideas on that subject too far."

"I do not Mr Simple; and I think, moreover, that he who has more to
lose than another will always strive more. But a common man only fights
for his own credit; but when a man is descended from a long line of
people famous in history, and has a coat _in_ arms, criss-crossed, and
stuck all over with lions and unicorns to support the dignity of--why,
has he not to fight for the credit of all his ancestors, whose names
would be disgraced if he didn't behave well?"

"I agree with you, Mr Chucks, in the latter remark, to a certain
extent."

"Mr Simple, we never know the value of good descent when we have it,
but it's when we cannot get it, that we can _'preciate_ it. I wish I
had been born a nobleman--I do, by heavens!" and Mr Chucks slapped his
fist against the funnel, so as to make it ring again. "Well, Mr
Simple," continued he, after a pause, "it is however a great comfort to
me that I have parted company with that fool, Mr Muddle, with his
twenty-six thousand and odd years, and that old woman, Dispart the
gunner. You don't know how those two men used to fret me; it was very
silly, but I couldn't help it. Now the warrant officers of this ship
appear to be very respectable, quiet men who know their duty, and attend
to it, and are not too familiar, which I hate and detest. You went
home, Mr Simple, to your friends, of course, when you arrived in
England?"

"I did, Mr Chucks, and spent some days with my grandfather, Lord
Privilege, whom you say you met at dinner."

"Well, and how was the old gentleman?" inquired the boatswain with a
sigh.

"Very well, considering his age."

"Now do, pray, Mr Simple, tell me all about it; from the time that the
servants met you at the door until you went away. Describe to me the
house and all the rooms, for I like to hear of all these things,
although I can never see them again."

To please Mr Chucks, I entered into a full detail, which he listened to
very attentively, until it was late, and then with difficulty would he
permit me to leave off, and go down to my hammock.

The next day, rather a singular circumstance occurred. One of the
midshipmen was mast-headed by the second lieutenant, for not waiting on
deck until he was relieved. He was down below when he was s