Great, clumsy, ugly things."
"You don't like him then?" said the mate.
"Of course not," said the girl, tossing her head.
"And yet they 've sent you to sea to get out of his way," said the mate
meditatively. "Well, the best thing you can do"--His hardihood failed
him at the pitch.
"Go on," said the girl.
"Well, it's this way," said the mate, coughing; "they've sent you to sea
to get you out of this fellow's way, so if you fall in love with
somebody on the ship they'll send you home again."
"So they will," said the girl eagerly. "I'll pretend to fall in love
with that nice-looking sailor you call Harry. What a lark!"
"I shouldn't do that," said the mate gravely.
"Why not?" said the girl.
"'Tisn't discipline," said the mate very firmly; "it wouldn't do at all.
He's before the mast."
"Oh, I see," remarked Miss Alsen, smiling scornfully.
"I only mean pretend, of course," said the mate, colouring. "Just to
oblige you."
"Of course," said the girl calmly. "Well, how are we to be in love?"
The mate flushed darkly. "I don't know much about such things," he said
at length; "but we'll have to look at each other, and all that sort of
thing, you know."
"I don't mind that," said the girl.
"Then we'll get on by degrees," said the other.
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