"I'd rather go into the navy."
"Wouldn't you like to fight?"
"I'd like to fight," I said. "But a common soldier it's no honour to
have to be told to fight and to be looked down upon while you do it, and
how could I be an officer?"
"Couldn't you be?" she said, and looked at me doubtfully; and the spaces
of the social system opened between us.
Then, as became a male of spirit, I took upon myself to brag and lie
my way through this trouble. I said I was a poor man, and poor men went
into the navy; that I "knew" mathematics, which no army officer did; and
I claimed Nelson for an exemplar, and spoke very highly of my outlook
upon blue water. "He loved Lady Hamilton," I said, "although she was a
lady--and I will love you."
We were somewhere near that when the egregious governess became audible,
calling "Beeee-atrice! Beeee-e-atrice!"
"Snifty beast!" said my lady, and tried to get on with the conversation;
but that governess made things impossible.
"Come here!" said my lady suddenly, holding out a grubby hand; and I
went very close to her, and she put her little head down upon the wall
until her black fog of hair tickled my cheek.
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