nd as the old
governor was fond of sea songs and tough yarns, I served them out freely
until the clock struck 2 A.M., when, after taking a good swig out of a
large tankard of strong ale, which had frequently been replenished, I took
Nancy's hand and kissed it, and wished her good-night. The father, who was
a hearty old farmer, asked me to call in again before I sailed, for at
this time I was master's mate of the _Savage_ sloop of war. She was just
commissioned at Chatham, and as we did not expect to sail for three weeks,
I had plenty of time to make love." "But did you think it prudent to
marry, knowing that you could scarcely support yourself, much less a
wife?" demanded the younger. "That's all true," replied he; "but don't put
me in mind of my misfortunes. I was in love, you know, and when a man is
in love, why, he's two-thirds a woman. I only thought of the present--the
future I sent packing to the devil." "Well," asked the other, "how long
were you backing and filling?" "About a fortnight," replied he. "Her
mother said it was too short a time, and the marriage had better be put
off until I returned from a cruise. 'That will never do,' replied I; 'I
may be popped off the hooks. There is nothing like the present moment, is
there?' said I, appealing to Nancy and her father. 'Why,' said she, 'dear
mother, I think William'--for that, you know, is my Christian name--'is
right; is he not, father?' 'Do as you like, girl,' said he. 'I only wish
to see you happy.' It was now settled that in two days we were to be
spliced. All the clodhoppers and grass-combers I had met before, who were
mostly her relations, were asked to the wedding, and among the rest her
clownish admirer, who, I understood, was her cousin. He was rather sulky
at first, but seeing everyone around him in good humour, he came up to me
and offered his hand, which I took and shook heartily. The farmhouse not
being more than three miles from Chatham, we hired two coaches from that
place, and with the addition of two chay-carts belonging to the farmers,
we made a numerous (for there were twenty-six of us), if not a
respectable, appearance. After pairing off and pairing in, we weighed and
started with a pleasant breeze. The church soon hove in sight, and the
bells struck up merrily. We hove to, all standing before the altar. The
parson read the articles of marriage, and I was hooked. Nancy piped her
eye, and I looked nohow. We made a man-of-war's cruise there and bac