"Admiral," said I, "do you remember when you sent the --- to sea in a
gale of wind, when I was midshipman of her? Well, I got just as wet
that night as you are now. Pray, admiral, have you any commands to the
Misses M'Flinn?"
"I'll tell you when I catch hold of you," said Sir Hurricane, as he
moved up stairs to his room, dripping like Pope's Lodona, only not
smelling so sweet.
Hearing a noise, the housekeeper came up, and all the family assembled
to condole with the humid admiral, but each enjoying the joke as much
as ourselves. We however paid rather dearly for it. The admiral swore
that neither of us should eat or drink in the house for three days;
and Ned's father, though ready to burst with laughter, was forced in
common decency to say that he thought the admiral perfectly right
after so gross a violation of hospitality.
I went and dined on board my ship, Ned went to a coffee-house; but
on the third morning after the shower, I popped my head into the
breakfast parlour, and said,
"Admiral, I have a good story to tell you, if you will let me come
in."
"I'd see you d----d first, you young scum of a fish pond. Be off, or
I'll shy the ham at your head."
"No, but indeed, my dear Admiral, it is such a nice story; it is one
just to your fancy."
"Well then, stand there and tell it, but don't come in, for if you
do--"
I stood at the door and told him the story.
"Well, now," said he, "that is a good story, and I will forgive you
for it.
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