alcomforthigh,andthisiswhatIdo.Ihatetohearofwomenonboard,ortoseethemonboardandnoshipundermycommandshalleverconveyafamilyofladiesanywhere,ifIcanhelpit.”
Thisbroughthissisteruponhim.
“Oh!Frederick!ButIcannotbelieveitofyou.—Allidlerefinement!—Womenmaybeascomfortableonboard,asinthebesthouseinEngland.IbelieveIhavelivedasmuchonboardasmostwomen,andIknownothingsuperiortotheaccommodationsofaman-of-war.IdeclareIhavenotacomfortoranindulgenceaboutme,evenatKellynchHall,”(withakindbowtoAnne),“beyondwhatIalwayshadinmostoftheshipsIhavelivedinandtheyhavebeenfivealtogether.”
“Nothingtothepurpose,”repliedherbrother.“Youwerelivingwithyourhusband,andweretheonlywomanonboard.”
“Butyou,yourself,broughtMrsHarville,hersister,hercousin,andthreechildren,roundfromPortsmouthtoPlymouth.Wherewasthissuperfine,extraordinarysortofgallantryofyoursthen?”
“Allmergedinmyfriendship,Sophia.Iwouldassistanybrotherofficer’swifethatIcould,andIwouldbringanythingofHarville’sfromtheworld’send,ifhewantedit.ButdonotimaginethatIdidnotfeelitanevilinitself.”
“Dependuponit,theywereallperfectlycomfortable.”
“Imightnotlikethemthebetterforthatperhaps.Suchanumberofwomenandchildrenhavenorighttobecomfortableonboard.”
“MydearFrederick,youaretalkingquiteidly.Pray,whatwouldbecomeofuspoorsailors’wives,whooftenwanttobeconveyedtooneportoranother,afterourhusbands,ifeverybodyhadyourfeelings?”
“Myfeelings,yousee,didnotpreventmytakingMrsHarvilleandallherfamilytoPlymouth.”
“ButIhatetohearyoutalkingsolikeafinegentleman,andasifwomenwereallfineladies,insteadofrationalcreatures.Wenoneofusexpecttobeinsmoothwaterallourdays.”
“Ah!mydear,”saidtheAdmiral,“whenhehadgotawife,hewillsingadifferenttune.Whenheismarried,ifwehavethegoodlucktolivetoanotherwar,weshallseehimdoasyouandI,andagreatmanyothers,havedone.Weshallhavehimverythankfultoanybodythatwillbringhimhiswife.”
“Ay,thatweshall.”
“NowIhavedone,”crie