Hitherto he had taken delight in the strains of Mr.
Badcock's flute. Suddenly, and almost pettishly, he laid an embargo
on that instrument, and moreover sent word down to the hold and
commanded old Worthyvale to desist from hammering on the ballast.
All noise, in fact, appeared to irritate him.
Mr. Badcock pocketed his flute in some dudgeon, and for occupation
fell to drinking with Mr. Fett; whose potations, if they did not
sensibly lighten the ship, heightened, at least, her semblance of
buoyancy with a deck-cargo of empty bottles. My father put no
restraint upon these topers.
"Drink, gentlemen," said he; "drink by all means so long as it amuses
you. I had far rather you exceeded than that I should appear
inhospitable."
"Magnifshent old man," Mr. Fett hiccuped to me confidentially,
"_an'_ magnifshent liquor. As the song shays--I beg your pardon, the
shong says--able 'make a cat speak an' man dumb--
"Like 'n old courtier of the queen's
An' the queen's old courtier--"
Chorus, Mr. Bawcock, _if_ you please, an', by the way, won't mind my
calling you Bawcock, will you? Good Shakespearean word, bawcock:
euphonious, too--
"Accomplisht eke to flute it and to sing,
Euphonious Bawcock bids the welkin ring.
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