16 The Wine-Dark Sea - Libro della tutto

Patrick O'Brian The Wine-Dark Sea
other unfortunate attempt to please. 'Everything
is within an easy hand's reach, so it is.'
'This is an extraordinarily small piece of
plum-duff,' he observed at dinner – Sunday
dinner – in the cabin. 'I wish it may not be an
ignoble stroke of revenge for my innocent
words this morning about our harmless, meek,
and bargelike appearance – innocent upon
my word, and even, I thought, amusing – a
mild pleasantry. But not at all: prim faces, wry
looks, and now this meagre, despicable pudding.
I had thought better of my shipmates.'
'You mistake, brother,' said Jack. 'Mr Adams
and I, in our joint character as purser, cast our
accounts yesterday, reckoning every last firkin
of oatmeal, every bin and locker in the breadroom,
and dividing the whole, private stores
not excepted, by the number of mouths
aboard. That piece of pudding is your full ration,
my poor Stephen.'