The Three Lieutenants | Page 2

said before the Nemesis in China, and other steamers had
done good service, which even seamen of the old school could not
disparage.
Of course Tom regarded steamers with the utmost contempt, and never
spoke of them without quoting the remarks of Admiral Triton, who,
however, in the course of time, learnt to modify his opinions.
Tom, who had come home for the holidays with secret hopes of not
having to return to Eagle House, sat proudly smiling his assent to their
sisters' remarks on Jack, stopping for awhile from the vigorous attack
on a plate of ham and eggs, which he had before been making. Jack,
who had taken a chair at the table, asked quietly,--"do you really wish
to hear me hail the main-top?" Mary nodded.
Tom's eyes twinkled, his countenance beamed all over with delight.
Jack got up, planted his feet firmly on the floor, and put his hand to his
mouth as if about to hail.
"I had better not," he said, laughing, "lest I frighten the household out
of their propriety. They will think that some wild bull has got into the
breakfast-room."
"Oh, never mind that; we want to hear how you do speak on board
ship," said Lucy; "just a few words, you know."
"As you like it," said Jack, and then, putting his hand to his mouth, he
shouted simply, "Maintop there!"

The sound made his sisters jump from their chairs. Tom clapped his
hands with delight, and laughed till the tears rolled down his cheeks. In
rushed the butler and footman and two housemaids, with dusters in
their hands, to ascertain what was the matter. Sir John came hurrying in
from the garden with a look of astonishment on his countenance, and
her ladyship's own maid was sent down to know if anything had
happened.
"I told you so," said Jack to his sisters. "I was only speaking as we do
sometimes at sea," he added, turning to the servants, the female portion
of whom lingered to take an admiring look at their young master.
Sir John gazed with a father's pride at his manly son, and then looked at
Tom, about whom he had the evening before received a letter from
Admiral Triton, saying that if the boy still wished to go into the Navy,
he should have great pleasure in getting him forthwith appointed to a
ship.
"If the service turns him out as fine a fellow as his brother, I shall not
regret should he choose it," thought the baronet. "I'll talk to him and
Jack about the matter by-and-by, and ascertain the real bent of the boy's
inclinations." Had Tom known what was passing in his father's mind he
would speedily have decided the question.
The whole party were soon assembled at breakfast--that pleasantest and
most sociable of meals in an English country-house. Besides the
members of the family already introduced, there was Lady Rogers--fair,
comely, gentle-mannered--and kind-hearted--Paul the eldest son,
studying the law that he might take the better care of his paternal
estates; and, lastly, Sidney, a captain in the Guards, at home on leave.
Then there were several guests, county neighbours, who had come for a
couple of nights, a brother officer of Sidney's and a school-fellow of
Lucy's. Jack cast an appreciating glance over the breakfast-table, with
its plates of attractive little rolls, its racks of thin, crisp toast, its small
pats of butter, swimming amid ice in elegantly-designed bowls of
crystal, its eggs under snow-white napkins, its covered dishes
containing muffins or sausages or other minute delicacies, its hissing
urn and cream and milk jugs, and tea set at one end, and its coffee set at

the other, presided over by two sweet-looking girls; and then he
smilingly looked over his shoulder at the side-board, on which, among
various comestibles, appeared a round of beef, another of brawn, a
huge ham, and a venison-pasty.
Who that has been long a wanderer from home has not gone back in
memory to such a scene as now greeted Jack's eyes, especially when
hunger has been gnawing or provender coarse? Jack often had, and
though he had never grumbled at privations or hardships, he was,
notwithstanding, all the more ready to do ample justice to the viands
spread out before him. He showed this when, after having helped
several of the party from the side-board, he returned with his own
well-loaded plate to the table. The guardsman watched him with
astonishment, and even his brother, the barrister, thought that Jack had
got an enormous appetite. Jack, who was hungry, saw no reason why he
should not eat till he was satisfied, and had laid in a store of food to last
him till the seven o'clock dinner, for luncheon he eschewed as
effeminate and an unnecessary interruption