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Oh, boys.
(Faintly spoilery, but only if you do not choose to read, you know, the blurbs on the back of the books; thus, blurb-y context of a few novels ago.)
"No, no; perhaps the Surprise is not one of your gimcrack modern craft, flung together with unseasoned timber by contract in some hole-in-the-corner yard: she may have been built some time ago, but she is not old. And you know -- who better? -- the improvements that have been carried out: diagonal bracing, reinforced knees, sheathing..."
"You speak quite passionately, my dear: protectively, as if I had said something disagreeable about your wife."
"That is because I do in fact feel passionate and protective. I have known this ship so many years, man and boy, that I do not like to hear her blackguarded."
"Jack, when I said aged I referred only to the generations, or ages, of filth that have accumulated below; I did not mean to blackguard her any more than I should blackguard dear Sophie, God forbid."
"Well," said Jack, "I am sorry I flew out. I am sorry I spoke so chuff. My tongue took the bit between its teeth, so I was laid by the lee again; which is very absurd, because I had meant to be particularly winning and agreeable. I had meant to say that yes, there was a hundred tons of shingle ballast down there that should have been changed long ago; and after having admitted so much and said that we intended to open the sweetening-cock and pump her cleaner, I was to go on and ask whether you would consider selling her to me. It would give me so much pleasure."
Stephen was chewing a large, rebellious piece of cheese. As it went down at last he said indistinctly, "Very well, Jack." And covertly looking at the decently-restrained delight on his friend's face, he wondered, "How, physically speaking, do his eyes assume this much intenser blue?"
They shook hands on it, and Jack said, "We have not talked about her price: do you choose to name it now, or had you rather reflect?"
"You shall give me what I gave," said Stephen. "How much it was I do not at present recall, but Tom Pullings will tell us. He bid for me."
Jack nodded. "We will ask him in the morning: he is dead-beat now." And raising his voice, "Killick!"
"Sir?" answered Killick, appearing within the second.
"Bring the Doctor the best punch-bowl and everything necessary; then clear away his 'cello and my fiddle in the great cabin, and place the music-stands."
"Punch-bowl it is, sir; and the kettle is already on the boil," said Killick, almost laughing as he spoke.
(Faintly spoilery, but only if you do not choose to read, you know, the blurbs on the back of the books; thus, blurb-y context of a few novels ago.)
"No, no; perhaps the Surprise is not one of your gimcrack modern craft, flung together with unseasoned timber by contract in some hole-in-the-corner yard: she may have been built some time ago, but she is not old. And you know -- who better? -- the improvements that have been carried out: diagonal bracing, reinforced knees, sheathing..."
"You speak quite passionately, my dear: protectively, as if I had said something disagreeable about your wife."
"That is because I do in fact feel passionate and protective. I have known this ship so many years, man and boy, that I do not like to hear her blackguarded."
"Jack, when I said aged I referred only to the generations, or ages, of filth that have accumulated below; I did not mean to blackguard her any more than I should blackguard dear Sophie, God forbid."
"Well," said Jack, "I am sorry I flew out. I am sorry I spoke so chuff. My tongue took the bit between its teeth, so I was laid by the lee again; which is very absurd, because I had meant to be particularly winning and agreeable. I had meant to say that yes, there was a hundred tons of shingle ballast down there that should have been changed long ago; and after having admitted so much and said that we intended to open the sweetening-cock and pump her cleaner, I was to go on and ask whether you would consider selling her to me. It would give me so much pleasure."
Stephen was chewing a large, rebellious piece of cheese. As it went down at last he said indistinctly, "Very well, Jack." And covertly looking at the decently-restrained delight on his friend's face, he wondered, "How, physically speaking, do his eyes assume this much intenser blue?"
They shook hands on it, and Jack said, "We have not talked about her price: do you choose to name it now, or had you rather reflect?"
"You shall give me what I gave," said Stephen. "How much it was I do not at present recall, but Tom Pullings will tell us. He bid for me."
Jack nodded. "We will ask him in the morning: he is dead-beat now." And raising his voice, "Killick!"
"Sir?" answered Killick, appearing within the second.
"Bring the Doctor the best punch-bowl and everything necessary; then clear away his 'cello and my fiddle in the great cabin, and place the music-stands."
"Punch-bowl it is, sir; and the kettle is already on the boil," said Killick, almost laughing as he spoke.
Patrick O'Brian, The Nutmeg of Consolation, p.200-201