cept when strangers were at the
table.

Captain Bradshaw restrained his indignation, and ordered champagne to be
brought.

"I'll join you," cried the first-lieutenant, shoving in his glass.

"Come, younker, let you and I have a glass cosy together," said Jerry to
the midshipman, who, frightened at what was going on, moved his chair a
little further from Jerry, and then looked first at him and then at the
captain.

"Oh, pray take a glass with the young gentleman," said Captain Bradshaw,
with mock politeness.

"Come, steward, none of your half allowance, if you please," continued
the impertinent Jerry. "Now, then, my cock, here's _towards_ you, and
`better luck still.'"

Captain Bradshaw was astonished. "I say, youngster, did Captain
M--- ever flog you?"

"No, sir," replied Jerry, demurely, perceiving that he had gone too far;
"he always treats his officers like gentlemen."

"Then, I presume, sir, when they are on board of his ship, that they
conduct themselves as gentlemen."

This hint made Jerry dumb for some time; the officers, however,
continued as before. The surgeon dropped his plate, full of damascene
tart, on the deck. The first-lieutenant spilt his snuff on the
table-cloth, and laid his snuff-box on the table, which he knew to be
the captain's aversion; and the master requested a glass of grog, as the
rotgut French wines had given him a pain in the bowels. Captain
Bradshaw could hardly retain his seat upon the chair, upon which he
fidgeted right and left. He perceived that his officers were behaving
in a very unusual manner, and that it was with a view to his annoyance:
yet it was impossible for him to take notice of breaking glasses, and
finding fault with the cookery, which they took care to do, sending
their plates away before they had eaten a mouthful, with apparent
disgust; neither could he demand a court-martial for awkwardness or want
of good manners at his own table. He began to think that he had better
have left out the "_every day until further orders_," in the memorandum,
as rescinding it immediately would have been an acknowledgment of their
having gained the victory; and as to their going on in this way, to put
up with it was impossible.

The dinner was over, and the dessert placed on the table. Captain
Bradshaw passed the bottles round, helping himself to Madeira. Roberts
took claret, and as soon as he had tasted it, "I beg your pardon,
Captain Bradshaw," said he, "but this wi