Page 184 (1/2)

Mr Poas amused; and as these communications took place only when

the mate was relieved off duty he had no serious objection to them The

mate's presence made the first half-hour and sometimes even more of his

watch on deck pass away If his senior did notsome of his

rest it was not Mr Powell's affair Franklin was a decent fellow His

intention was not to boast of his filial piety

"Of course I mean respectable female society," he explained "The other

sort is neither here nor there I blame no man's conduct, but a well-

brought-up young fellow like you knows that there's precious little fun

to be got out of it" He fetched a deep sigh "I wish Captain Anthony's

sort like my old lady He would have had to

look after her and he would have done it well Captain Anthony is a

proper man And it would have saved him from the most foolish--"

He did not finish the phrase which certainly was turning bitter in his

ain" He laughed

a little