In his case a sheer revolt against the "office"
suit had induced him to dress in clothes which recalled one glorious
summer on the Westmoreland hills. Their incongruity did not appeal to
him until Captain Stump forcibly drew attention thereto, and his hearty
laugh at the way in which he was enlightened did not tend to soothe his
skipper's indignation.
"Second mate!" bellowed Stump again, calling the heavens to witness
that there never was such another, "Where's yer ticket? Seein' is
believin', they say. Who did you go to sea with? When did you pass?"
"I have no certificate, if that is what you mean, and I have never been
to sea," said Royson.
This remark impressed Stump as an exquisite joke. His rage yielded to a
rumble of hoarse laughter.
"Lord love a duck!" he guffawed. "If only I'd ha' knowed, I could have
told my missus. It would have cheered her up for a week. Never mind.
We've a few minutes in Dover. I'll send her a picture postcard. It'll
'arf tickle 'er to death."
Evidently the captain meant to add certain explanatory remarks which
would account for that Gargantuan tickling.
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