His features working nervously he resumed his seat and gazed dutifully at his superior officer.
"I suppose you've heard that my son is going to get married ?" said the latter.
"I couldn't help hearing of it, sir," said the steward in self defence-- "nobody could." "He's going to marry that yellow-headed Jezebel of Kybird's," said the captain, staring at the fire.
Mr.Wilks murmured that he couldn't understand anybody liking yellow hair, and, more than that, the general opinion of the ladies in Fullalove Alley was that it was dyed.
"I'm going to ship him on the Seabird," continued the captain.

"She'll probably be away for a year or two, and, in the meantime, this girl will probably marry somebody else.

Especially if she doesn't know what has become of him.

He can't get into mischief aboard ship." "No, sir," said the wondering Mr.Wilks.

"Is Master Jack agreeable to going, sir ?" "That's nothing to do with it," said the captain, sharply.
"No, sir," said Mr.Wilks, "o' course not.