Page:The Naval Officer (1829), vol. 2.djvu/205

 "I trust, gentlemen, this is not the last time I shall sit in the gun-room, and that you will all consider my cabin as your own. I love to 'make my officers comfortable: nothing more delightful than a harmomious ship, where every man and boy is ready to go to h—1 for his officers. . That's what I call good fellowship—give and take—make proper allowances for one another's failings, and we shall be sorry when the time comes for us to part. I am afraid, however, that I shall not be long with you; for, though I do at upon the brig, the Duke of N —— and Lord George ——, have given the first Lord a d—d whigging for not promoting me sooner; and, between ourselves, I don't wish to go farther. My post commission goes out with me to Barbadoes."

The first lieutenant cocked his eye; and quick as were the motions of that eye, the captain, with a twist of one of his own, caught a glimpse of it, before it could be returned to its bearing on the central object, the beef-steaks,