"No more! well, I am glad of that, for Mrs Trotter is very particular
after a certain age. I should recommend you on no account to associate
with the other midshipmen. They are very angry with me, because I would
not permit Mrs Trotter to join their mess, and they are sad
storytellers."
"That they certainly are," replied I; but here we were interrupted by
Mrs Trotter coming down with a piece of stick in her hand, upon which
were skewered about a dozen small pieces of beef and pork, which she
first laid on a plate, and then began to lay the cloth, and prepare for
dinner.
"We have but a poor dinner to-day," said Mrs Trotter, "for the bum-boat
woman disappointed me. I particularly requested her to bring me off a
leg of lamb, but she says that there was none in the market. It is
rather early for it, that's true, but Trotter is very nice in his
eating. Now let us sit down to dinner."
I felt very sick, indeed, and could eat nothing. Our dinner consisted
of the pieces of beef and pork, the potatoes, and a baked pudding in a
tin dish. Mr Trotter went up to serve the spirits out to the ship's
company, and returned with a bottle of rum.
"Have you got Mr Simple's allowance, my love?" inquired Mrs Trotter.
"Yes, he is victualled to-day, as he came on board before twelve
o'clock. Do you drink spirits, Mr Simple?"
"No, I thank you," replied I, for I remembered the captain's injunction.
"Taking, as I do, such an interest in your welfare, I must earnestly
recommend you to abstain from them," said Mr Trotter. "It is a very
bad habit, and once acquired, not easy to be left off. I am obliged to
drink them that I may not check the perspiration after working in the
hold: I have, nevertheless, a natural abhorrence of them; but my
champagne and claret days are gone by, and I must submit to
circumstances."
"My poor Trotter!" said the lady.
"Well," continued he, "it's a poor heart that never rejoiceth." He then
poured out half a tumbler of rum, and filled the glass up with water.
"My love, will you taste it?"
"Now, Trotter, you know that I never touch it, except when the water is
so bad that I must have the taste taken away. How is the water to-day?"
"As usual, my dear, not drinkable." After much persuasion, Mrs Trotter
agreed to sip a little out of his glass. I thought that she took it
pretty often, considering that she did not like it, but I felt so unwell
that I was obliged to go on the main-deck.
I went to bed very tired; Mr Trotter had my hammock hung up in the
cock-pit, separated by a canvas screen from the cot in which he slept
with his wife. I thought this very odd, but they told me it was the
general custom on board ship, although Mrs Trotter's delicacy was very
much shocked by it. I was very sick, but Mrs Trotter was very kind.
When I was in bed she kissed me, and wished me good night, and very soon
afterwards I fell fast asleep.