human
It's just like him! he exclaimed.
gpt
Terence, my boy, you'll have the honour of wearing His Majesty's uniform, as I have done for many a long year, though yours will be blue and mine is red; and you'll bring no discredit on your cloth, I'll be your surety for it.
human
Thank you, uncle, for your good opinion of me, I said.
gpt
And am I really to become a midshipman, and wear a cockade in my hat, and a dirk by my side?
human
Within a few days you may be enjoying that happiness, my boy, answered the major.
gpt
My old friend, Captain Macnamara, writes me word that he'll receive you on board the _Liffy_ frigate, which, by a combination of circumstances, is now lying in Cork Harbour,--fortunate for us, but which might have proved disastrous to her gallant officers and crew, for she was dismasted in a gale, and was within an ace of being driven on shore. But a miss is as good as a mile; and when under jury-masts she scraped clear of the rocks, and got into port in safety. Here my letter, after wandering about for many a day, found him, and he has lost no time in replying to it. One of his midshipmen having gone overboard in the gale, he can give you his berth; but mind you, Terence, don't go and be doing the same thing.
human
Not if I can help it, uncle, I replied.
gpt
And Larry? will he take Larry? The boy has set his heart upon going to sea, and it would be after breaking if he were parted from me. He has been talking about it every day since he knew that I thought of going; and I promised him I would beg hard that he might go with me.
human
As Captain Macnamara says that the _Liffy_ has had several men killed in action, I have no doubt that a stout lad like Larry will not be refused; so you may tell him that when he volunteers, I'll answer for his being accepted,
gpt
Thank you, uncle; it will make him sing at the top of his voice when he hears that, I said.
human
And when are we to be off?
gpt
To-morrow, or the day after, at the furthest, answered the major.
human
I intend to go with you to introduce you to your captain, and to have a talk with him over old times.
gpt
Then may I run and tell my father and mother, and Maurice, and Denis, and the girls?
human
To be sure, boy; but you mustn't be surprised if they are not as delighted to hear of your going, as you are to go,