It's all in a nutshell.

Encourage her to confide in you--and she _will_ confide." "I am waiting to encourage her, captain, until she is left alone with me--after you have all sailed for the Arctic seas.

In the meantime, will you consider what I have said to you as intended for your ear only?
And will you forgive me, if I own that the turn the subject has taken does not tempt me to pursue it any further ?" The captain took the hint.

He instantly changed the subject; choosing, on this occasion, safe professional topics.

He spoke of ships that were ordered on foreign service; and, finding that these as subjects failed to interest Mrs.Crayford, he spoke next of ships that were ordered home again.