Page:The Naval Officer (1829), vol. 3.djvu/87

 because he had few friends and less money. He drew for his_pay on the day it became due, and it lasted till the next day of payment; and as I found he doated on a Spanish segar, and a correct glass of cogniac grog—for he never drank to excess—I presented him with a box of the former, and a dozen of the latter, to enable him to bear my nightly absence with christian composure.

As soon as the day's work was ended, the good-natured lieutenant used to say, "Come, Mr. Mildmay, I know what it is to be in love; I was once in love myself, though it is a good many years ago, and I am sure I shall get into the good graces of your Polly (for so he called Emily) if I send you to her arms. There is the jolly for you: send the boat off as soon as you have landed, and be with us at nine to-morrow morning, to meet the midshipman and the working party in the dock-yard."

All this was perfectly agreeable to me. I generally got to Mr. Somerville's temporary