Part 50 (1/2)
”I thought you'd turned in,” remarked Tom
”It wouldn't have been of any use; I couldn't have slept had I tried,”
answered Billy, with a sigh ”I want, Tom, to confide a secret to you”
”What is it?” inquired Tom ”You have had no quarrel with any of those military officers, I hope?”
”Oh, no, no,” answered Billy ”I know, Rogers, that you were once susceptible of the tender passion, and I want to make you my confidant
I am in love, irretrievably, hopelessly in love, and the fair object of my affections returns it, she assures me, with the same ardour But, you know,but my pay, and that will only keep me and allow me a few pounds to spend on tarts and jellies and ice creaive those up at all events, which would be a terrible sacrifice And then the major, her father, is evidently a hard-hearted, stubborn old fogey, and the on The adorable creature insists that I shall marry her on the first opportunity She, indeed, proposes that the chaplain should perform the ceremony on board, but I am afraid the captain would not allow that, and I am in a fearful state of perplexity”
”Which of them is it?” asked Tom; ”for you appeared equally attentive to both whenever I have seen you together”
”Ah! but you have not observed the glances Angelica has cast at me, nor the blush which ht that every one h I desired to keep the matter a secret in my own breast until I confided it to you We have been shi+pmates for many years, so that I felt sure I could trust you”
”Indeed you can,” answered Toive you the best advice I can
Don't say anything to any one else for a few days; at all events restrain your ardour, do not commit yourself while the lady remains on board You can write to her, you know, at any time, when she's safe on shore, then the captain would not interfere Perhaps, after a little absence, you may find your affection cool; for, from the way you describe her parents, I am, as a friend, bound to tell you that there are some objections to the match, and I am sure the captain would see them”
”I am sure that I shall never love her less than I do now,” answered Billy ”I have been thinking of co so of a poet, but I should like to show thein so lady in Sydney?” asked Tom, slily ”I don't think you ever finished the theave ement, but at present I know that they will be received, and htful to be in love, but it sadly unhinges a man, you know that from experience”
”Bosh!+ If I ever was in love, it is so long ago and I was such a boy at the tiotten all about it,” answered To Billy's remark ”But what about the verses?” he asked
”I have theone I would read them by the binnacle lamp but that the helmsman would overhear in--
”'Angelica, et the third line, but the fourth is--
”'Before thy shrine I bow
”'The jasmine, lily, and the rose, In thee are all entwined'
”Those third lines botherwith 'combined' Perhaps you can helpabout a sunflower or a poplar,” suggested Tos to my mind some of the taller productions of nature You must have remarked she's a head and a half taller than you are, Billy, and Mrs Bubsby even in, 'Tall art thou as the stately pine,' but I think I should be bothered if I had to introduce the sunflower,” observed Billy
”Give them to et the paymaster to helpa paper out of his pocket, gave it to Toer went below to turn in, though, he averred, not to sleep It should have been land, and was now junior lieutenant of the shi+p
To at the verses The following night the shi+p was five or six miles from Waterloo Bay, but Jack dee to stand in
Billy was very elica
”I say, Rogers, do you think the captain would let o on shore just for a day or two? The shi+p is sure to remain here for some time”
”I'm not so certain of that, and you cannot be spared,” answered Tom
”The captain would shted not to have observed what has been going on I don't think he altogether ad lady as much as you do”