ood,hours,&c.,andtheirsurpriseathisaccounts,atlearningthedegreeofaccommodationandarrangementwhichwaspracticable,drewfromhimsomepleasantridicule,whichremindedAnneoftheearlydayswhenshetoohadbeenignorant,andshetoohadbeenaccusedofsupposingsailorstobelivingonboardwithoutanythingtoeat,oranycooktodressitiftherewere,oranyservanttowait,oranyknifeandforktouse.
Fromthuslisteningandthinking,shewasrousedbyawhisperofMrsMusgrove’swho,overcomebyfondregrets,couldnothelpsaying—
“Ah!MissAnne,ifithadpleasedHeaventosparemypoorson,Idaresayhewouldhavebeenjustsuchanotherbythistime.”
Annesuppressedasmile,andlistenedkindly,whileMrsMusgroverelievedherheartalittlemoreandforafewminutes,therefore,couldnotkeeppacewiththeconversationoftheothers.
Whenshecouldletherattentiontakeitsnaturalcourseagain,shefoundtheMissMusgrovesjustfetchingtheNavyList(theirownnavylist,thefirstthathadeverbeenatUppercross),andsittingdowntogethertoporeoverit,withtheprofessedviewoffindingouttheshipsthatCaptainWentworthhadcommanded.
“YourfirstwastheAsp,IrememberwewilllookfortheAsp.”
“Youwillnotfindherthere.Quitewornoutandbrokenup.Iwasthelastmanwhocommandedher.Hardlyfitforservicethen.Reportedfitforhomeserviceforayearortwo,andsoIwassentofftotheWestIndies.”
Thegirlslookedallamazement.
“TheAdmiralty,”hecontinued,“entertainthemselvesnowandthen,withsendingafewhundredmentosea,inashipnotfittobeemployed.Buttheyhaveagreatmanytoprovideforandamongthethousandsthatmayjustaswellgotothebottomasnot,itisimpossibleforthemtodistinguishtheverysetwhomaybeleastmissed.”
“Phoo!phoo!”criedtheAdmiral,“whatstufftheseyoungfellowstalk!NeverwasabettersloopthantheAspinherday.Foranoldbuiltsloop,youwouldnotseeherequal.Luckyfellowtogether!Heknowstheremusthavebeentwentybettermenthanhimselfapplyingforheratthesametime.Luckyfellowtogetanythingsosoon,withnomoreinterestthanhis.”
“Ifeltmyluck,Admiral,Iassureyou”repliedCaptainWentworth,serious