been a misunderstanding between you and Mr Parker. You were not aware that gagging is a customary punishment in the Navy. No doubt you looked upon it as a piece of rough horseplay.’
‘I looked upon it as a piece of extreme brutality. Edwards’s teeth are in a state of advanced decay - he has been under my hands - and this iron bar had crushed two molars. I removed the bar at once, and. .
‘You removed it on medical grounds. You were not aware that it was a customary punishment, awarded by an officer - you knew nothing of the reason for the punishment?’
‘No, sir.’
‘You did wrong, sir: you acted inconsiderately. And in your agitation, in the heat of the moment, you spoke hastily to Mr Parker. You must express your sense of regret that this misunderstanding should have arisen.’
‘Mr Parker,’ said Stephen, ‘I regret that there has been this misunderstanding. I regret the remarks that passed between us; and if you wish I will repeat my apology on the quarterdeck, before those who heard them.’
Parker reddened, looked stiff and awkward; his right hand, the usual instrument for acknowledging such declarations, was immobilized in his sling. He bowed and said something about ‘being entirely satisfied - more than enough - for his part he too regretted any disobliging expression that might have escaped him.’
There was a pause. ‘I will not detain you, gentlemen,’ said Jack coldly. ‘Mr Parker, let the starboard watch be exercised at the great guns and the larboard at reefing topsails. Mr Pullings will take the small-?arms men. What is that infernal row. Hallows,’ - to the Marine sentry outside the door - ‘what is that din?’
‘Beg pardon, your Honour,’ said the soldier, ‘it’s the captain’s steward and the gun-?room steward fighting over the use of the coffee-?pot.’
‘God damn their eyes,’ cried Jack. ‘I’ll tan their hides- I’ll give them a bloody shirt - I’ll stop their capers. Old seamen, too: rot them. Mr Parker, let us establish a little order in this sloop.’
‘Jack, Jack,’ said Stephen, when the lamp was lit, ‘I fear I am a sad embarrassment to you. I think I shall pack my chest and go ashore.’
‘No, soul, never say that,’ said Jack wearily. ‘This explanation with Parker had to come: I had hoped to avoid it, but he did not catch my drift; and really I am just as glad to have had it out.’
‘Still and all, I think I will go ashore.’
‘And desert your patients?’
‘Sea-?surgeons are ten a penny.’
‘And your friends?’
‘Why, upon my word, Jack, I think you would be better without me. I am not suited for a sea-?life. You know far better than I, that discord among the officers is of no use to your ship; and I do not care to be a witness of this kind of brutality, or any party to it.’
‘Ours is a hard service, I admit. But you will find as much brutality by land.’
‘I am not a party to it by land.’
‘Yet you did not so much mind the flogging in the Sophie?’
‘No. The world in general, and even more your briny world, accepts flogging. It is this perpetual arbitrary harassing, bullying, hitting, brow-?beating, starting - these capricious torments, spreadeagling, gagging - this general atmosphere of oppression. I should have told you earlier. But it is a delicate subject, between you and me.’
‘I know. It is the devil . . . At the beginning of a commission a raw, ugly crew (and we have some precious hard bargains, you know) - has to be driven hard, and startled into prompt obedience; but this had gone too far. Parker and the bosun are not bad fellows - I did not give them a strong enough lead at the beginning - I was remiss. It will not be the same in the future.’
‘You must forgive me, my dear. Those men are dropsical with authority, permanently deranged, I must go.’
‘I say you shall not,’ said Jack, with a smile.
‘I say I shall.’
‘Do you know, my dear Stephen, that you may not come and go as you please?’ said Jack, leaning back in his chair and gazing at Stephen with placid triumph. ‘Do not you know that you are under martial law? That if you was to stir without my leave, I should be obliged to put an R against your name, have you taken up, brought back in irons and most severely punished? What do you say to a flogging through the feet, ha? You have no notion of the powers of a captain of a man-?of-?war. He is dropsical with authority, if you like.’
‘Must I not go ashore?’
‘No, of course you must not, and that’s the end to it. You must make your bed and lie on it.’ He paused, with a feeling that this was not quite the epigram that he had wished. ‘Now let me tell you of my interview with that scrub Harte. . .’
‘If, then, as I understand you, we are to spend some time in this place, you will have no objection to granting me some days’ leave of absence. Apart from all other considerations, I must get my dement and my compound fracture of the femur ashore: the hospital at Dover is at an inconsiderable distance - a most eligible port.’
‘Certainly,’ cried Jack, ‘if you give me your word not to run, so that I have all the trouble of careering over the country after you with a posse - a posse navitatum. Certainly. Any time you like to name.’
‘And when I am there,’ said Stephen deliberately, ‘I shall ride over to Mapes.’
‘A gentleman to see Miss Williams,’ said the maid.
‘Who is it, Peggy?’ cried Cecilia.
