Mr. Powell was amused; and as these communications took place only when
the mate was relieved off duty he had no serious objection to them. The
mate's presence made the first half-hour and sometimes even more of his
watch on deck pass away. If his senior did not mind losing some of his
rest it was not Mr. Powell's affair. Franklin was a decent fellow. His
intention was not to boast of his filial piety.
"Of course I mean respectable female society," he explained. "The other
sort is neither here nor there. I blame no man's conduct, but a well-
brought-up young fellow like you knows that there's precious little fun
to be got out of it." He fetched a deep sigh. "I wish Captain Anthony's
mother had been a lasting sort like my old lady. He would have had to
look after her and he would have done it well. Captain Anthony is a
proper man. And it would have saved him from the most foolish--"
He did not finish the phrase which certainly was turning bitter in his
mouth. Mr. Powell thought to himself: "There he goes again." He laughed
a little.
"I don't understand why you are so hard on the captain, Mr. Franklin. I
thought you were a great friend of his."
Mr. Franklin exclaimed at this. He was not hard on the captain. Nothing
was further from his thoughts. Friend! Of course he was a good friend
and a faithful servant. He begged Powell to understand that if Captain
Anthony chose to strike a bargain with Old Nick to-morrow, and Old Nick
were good to the captain, he (Franklin) would find it in his heart to
love Old Nick for the captain's sake. That was so. On the other hand,
if a saint, an angel with white wings came along and--"
He broke off short again as if his own vehemence had frightened him. Then
in his strained pathetic voice (which he had never raised) he observed
that it was no use talking. Anybody could see that the man was changed.
"As to that," said young Powell, "it is impossible for me to judge."
"Good Lord!" whispered the mate. "An educated, clever young fellow like
you with a pair of eyes on him and some sense too! Is that how a happy
man looks? Eh? Young you may be, but you aren't a kid; and I dare you
to say 'Yes!'"
Mr. Powell did not take up the challenge. He did not know what to think
of the mate's view. Still, it seemed as if it had opened his
understanding in a measure. He conceded that the captain did not look
very well.