"Not at first. I thought you were the most care-free kid I'd met in
months as you sat there telling about the funny things that had happened
you and your little war tugboat. But towards morning, with only the two
of us awake, I remember you as possibly the most melancholy young naval
officer I'd ever met. You started to tell what a tough life the navy was
for the home-loving officer or man, and I had a special reason for being
interested in that. I had--I still have--a nephew with his eye on
Annapolis. But just then reveille blew the camp awake and you went back
to your tugboat."
Wickett smiled, though not too buoyantly, as he said: "Well, on my next
cruise to the East I could have added a chapter to the story I might
have told you by that overnight camp-fire. And I will now--but wait."