CHAPTER VIII.

ldneverwillinglyadmitanyladiesonboardashipofhis,exceptingforaball,oravisit,whichafewhoursmightcomprehend. “But,ifIknowmyself,”saidhe,“thisisfromnowantofgallantrytowardsthem.Itisratherfromfeelinghowimpossibleitis,withallone’sefforts,andallone’ssacrifices,tomaketheaccommodationsonboardsuchaswomenoughttohave.Therecanbenowantofgallantry,Admiral,inratingtheclaimsofwomentoeverypersonalcomforthigh,andthisiswhatIdo.Ihatetohearofwomenonboard,ortoseethemonboardandnoshipundermycommandshalleverconveyafamilyofladiesanywhere,ifIcanhelpit.” Thisbroughthissisteruponhim. “Oh!Frederick!ButIcannotbelieveitofyou.—Allidlerefinement!—Womenmaybeascomfortableonboard,asinthebesthouseinEngland.IbelieveIhavelivedasmuchonboardasmostwomen,andIknownothingsuperiortotheaccommodationsofaman-of-war.IdeclareIhavenotacomfortoranindulgenceaboutme,evenatKellynchHall,”(withakindbowtoAnne),“beyondwhatIalwayshadinmostoftheshipsIhavelivedinandtheyhavebeenfivealtogether.” “Nothingtothepurpose,”repliedherbrother.“Youwerelivingwithyourhusband,andweretheonlywomanonboard.” “Butyou,yourself,broughtMrsHarville,hersister,hercousin,andthreechildren,roundfromPortsmouthtoPlymouth.Wherewasthissuperfine,extraordinarysortofgallantryofyoursthen?” “Allmergedinmyfriendship,Sophia.Iwouldassistanybrotherofficer’swifethatIcould,andIwouldbringanythingofHarville’sfromtheworld’send,ifhewantedit.ButdonotimaginethatIdidnotfeelitanevilinitself.” “Dependuponit,theywereallperfectlycomfortable.” “Imightnotlikethemthebetterforthatperhaps.Suchanumberofwomenandchildrenhavenorighttobecomfortableonboard.” “MydearFrederick,youaretalkingquiteidly.Pray,whatwouldbecomeofuspoorsailors’wives,whooftenwanttobeconveyedtooneportoranother,afterourhusbands,ifeverybodyhadyourfeelings?” “Myfeelings,yousee,didnotpreventmytakingMrsHarvilleandallherfamilytoPlymouth.” “ButIhatetohearyoutalkingsolikeafinegentleman,andasifwomenwereallfineladies,insteadofrationalcreatures.Wenoneofusexpecttobeinsmoothwaterallourdays.” “Ah!mydear,”saidtheAdmiral,“whenhehadgotawife,hewillsingadifferenttune.Whenheismarried,ifwehavethegoodlucktolivetoanotherwar,weshallseehimdoasyouandI,andagreatmanyothers,havedone.Weshallhavehimverythankfultoanybodythatwillbringhimhiswife.” “Ay,thatweshall.” “NowIhavedone,”criedCaptainWentworth.“Whenoncemarriedpeoplebegintoattackmewith,—‘Oh!youwillthinkverydifferently,whenyouaremarried.’Icanonlysay,‘No,Ishallnot’andthentheysayagain,‘Yes,youwill,’andthereisanendofit.” Hegotupandmovedaway. “Whatagreattravelleryoumusthavebeen,ma’am!”saidMrsMusgrovetoMrsCroft. “Prettywell,ma’aminthefifteenyearsofmymarriagethoughmanywomenhavedonemore.IhavecrossedtheAtlanticfourtimes,andhavebeenoncetotheEastIndies,andbackagain,andonlyoncebesidesbeingindifferentplacesabouthome:Cork,andLisbon,andGibraltar.ButIneverwentbeyondtheStreights,andneverwasintheWestIndies.WedonotcallBermudaorBahama,youknow,theWestIndies.” MrsMusgrovehadnotawordtosayindissentshecouldnotaccuseherselfofhavingevercalledthemanythinginthewholecourseofherlife. “And