human
It do seem more dreary than I expected, she said.
gpt
I wouldn't be a sailor, Bob, much as I've bin used to the sea, an' like it.
human
Ah, Nell, that's 'cause you've only bin used to the _sea-shore_. You haven't bin long enough on blue water, lass, to know that folks' opinions change a good deal wi' their feelin's. Wait till we git to the neighbour'ood o' the line, wi' smooth water an' blue skies an' sunshine, sharks, and flyin' fish. You'll have a different opinion then about the sea.
gpt
Right you are, Bob, said Joe Slagg, coming up at that moment.
human
Most people change their opinions arter gittin' to the line, specially when it comes blazin' hot, fit to bile the sea an' stew the ship, an' a dead calm gits a hold of 'e an' keeps ye swelterin' in the doldrums for a week or two.
gpt
But it wasn't that way we was lookin' at it, Joe, returned Nellie, with a laugh.
human
Bob was explainin' to me how pleasant a change it would be after the cold grey sea an' sky we're havin' just now.
gpt
Well, it may be so; but whatever way ye may look at it, you'll change yer mind, more or less, when you cross the line. By the way, that minds me that some of us in the steerage are invited to cross the line to-night--the line that separates us from the cabin--to attend a lectur' there--an' you'll niver guess the subjec', Bob.
human
I know that, Joe. I never made a right guess in my life, that I knows on. Heave ahead, what is it?
gpt
A lectur' on the `Lifeboat,' no less! But it aint our lifeboat sarvice: it's the American one, cause it's to be given by that fine young fellow, Dr Hayward, who looks as if suthin' had damaged his constitootion somehow. I'm told he's a Yankee, though he looks uncommon like an Englishman.
human
He's tall an' 'andsome enough, anyhow,
gpt
Ay, an' he's good enough for anything, said Nellie, with enthusiasm.
human
You should see the kind way he speaks to poor Ian when he comes to see him--which is pretty much every day. He handles him, too, so tenderly-- just like his mother; but he won't give him medicine or advice, for it seems that wouldn't be thought fair by the ship's doctor. No more it would, I suppose.
gpt
D'ee know what's the matter wi' him?
human
Not I, returned Massey.
gpt
It seems more like gineral weakness than anything else.
human
I can tell you, said a voice close to them. The voice was that of Tomlin, who, although a first-class passenger, was fond of visiting and fraternising with the people of the fore-cabin.
gpt
He got himself severely wounded some time ago when protecting a poor slave-girl from her owner, and he's now slowly recovering. He is taking a long voyage for his health. The girl, it seems, had run away from her owner, and had nearly escaped into Canada, where of course, being on British soil, she would be free--
human
God bless the British soil! interrupted little Mrs Mitford, in a tone of enthusiasm which caused a laugh all round; but that did not prevent some of the bystanders from responding with a hearty
gpt
Amen!