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This plainness was not, however, devoid of sense, and it was relieved by an uncommon amount of good-nature and kindness of heart.
The indomitable good-nature, and the professional nonchalance of Bluewater, by leaving every subordinate undisturbed in the enjoyment of his own personal caprices, had rendered the rear-admiral a greater favourite, in one sense at least, than the commander-in-chief.
He was a decidedly handsome young fellow, but with the stamp of dissipation already on his countenance. The other was a telegraph engineer, with honesty and good-nature in every line of his plain countenance.
And Anna, too, was troubled and entreated him to drink no more; and he would suddenly fly into a rage and beat the table with his fists: "I won't allow any one to dictate to me!" he would shout. "Wretched boys! wretched girl! I'll turn you all out!" But there was a note of weakness, of good-nature in his voice, and no one was afraid of him. After dinner he usually dressed in his best.
His jokes were plenty, and his good-nature thoroughly genuine, but he did not seem to understand that a gentleman could wear an old coat, or that a lady could be respectable unless she had her carriage, or employed a French milliner. "Charming place, ma'am," said he, bowing to the widow; "noble prospect delightful to us Cocknies, who seldom see anything but Pall Mall."
In a moment of good-nature he entreated this aged servant to accept two thousand ducats at his hand and leave his service, lest he should be seized with an irrepressible desire to kill him, as he had so many others. The old man clung to the feet of the king, refused the two thousand ducats, and assured him that he preferred perishing by his hand rather than abandon so beloved a master.
I asked if he intended to speak to them, and he said he would like to. I asked him then to please discourage all cheering, noise, or any sort of confusion; that we had had enough of it before Bull Run to ruin any set of men, and that what we needed were cool, thoughtful, hard-fighting soldiers no more hurrahing, no more humbug. He took my remarks in the most perfect good-nature.
His good-nature was equally apparent. Ton could not dislike the man, although several of his follies and foibles you might be tempted to condemn. He was generous and inconsiderate; money with him had little value."
'What could I say to this, Matilda? I only cried heartily, begged pardon, and promised to be a good girl in future. And so here am I neutralised again, for I cannot, in honour or common good-nature, tease poor Lucy by interfering with Hazlewood, although she has so little confidence in me; and neither can I, after this grave appeal, venture again upon such delicate ground with papa.
Now these difficulties may be very much diminished by looking a little into the arrangement of the boys at the outset, and so modifying it as to diminish the amount of temptation to which the individuals are exposed. This should be done, however, cautiously, deliberately, and with good-nature, keeping the object of it a good deal out of view.
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