Page:The Naval Officer (1829), vol. 3.djvu/155

 next time he had any female relatives, he would keep his engagements, and attend to them himself.

"Why, now, who do you think they are?" said the admiral.

"Think!" said I, "why, who should they be but your Yankee cousins?"

"Why, was you such a d—d flat as to believe what I said, eh? Why, their father keeps a shop of all sorts at Philadelphia, and they were going to New York, on a visit to some of their relatives, when the ship they were in was taken and brought in here."

"Then," said I, "hese are not the bon-ton of Philadelphia?"

"Just as much as Nancy Dennis is the bonton of Halifax," said the admiral; " though the uncle, as I told you, is a sensible fellow in his way. "

'Very well," said I; "you have caught me for once; but remember, I pay you for it."