16 The Wine-Dark Sea - Libro della tutto

Patrick O'Brian The Wine-Dark Sea
before Bridie's birthday.'
'I never said which birthday, this or the next.'
'I wonder you can speak with such levity
about my daughter. I have always treated
yours with proper respect.'
'You called them a pair of turnip-headed
swabs once, when they were still in long
clothes.'
'For shame, Jack: a hissing shame upon you.
Those were your very own words when you
showed them to me at Ashgrove before our
voyage to the Mauritius. Your soul to the
Devil.'
'Well, perhaps they were. Yes: you are quite
right – I remember now – you warned me not
to toss them into the air, as being bad for the
intellects. I beg pardon. But tell me, brother,
has nobody told you what is afoot?'
'They have not.'