start off at once, and at my patent surprise he grew yet more nervous
and confused.

"I have kept a regard for your father, Brooks--a veneration, I might
almost call it. Sailors and soldiers, if I may say it, are not apt
to think too well of one another; but the Major from the first
fulfilled my conception of all a soldier should be-a gentleman
fearless and modest, a true Christian hero. Minden Cottage, you say?
And fronting the road a little this side of St. Germans? Tell me,
pray--and excuse the impertinence--what household does he keep?"

It is hard to write down Captain Branscome's questions on paper, and
divest them, as his gentle face and hesitating kindly manner divested
them, of all offensiveness. I did not resent them at the time or
consider then impertinent. But they were certainly close and minute,
and I had reason before long to recall every detail of his catechism.

Captain Coffin, on the other hand, welcomed me back to Falmouth with
a carelessness which disappointed if it did not nettle me.
He fetched out the tea and guava-jelly, to be sure, but appeared to
take no interest in my doings during the holidays, and was
uncommunicative on his own. This seemed the stranger because he had
important news to tell me. During my absence he and Mr. Goodfellow
between them had finished the whaleboat.

The truth was--though I did not at once perceive it--that upon its
completion the old man had begun to drink hard. Drink invariably
made him morose, suspicious. His real goodwill to me had not
changed, as I was to learn. He had paid a visit to Captain
Branscome, and give him special instructions to teach me the art of