"Your charming partner of last night was rather disappointed," observed
Hal Hastings.
"Yes; she must feel that I have used her mighty shabbily," Jack
responded. "I am afraid she won't forgive me."
"Oh, well, after a few days you'll never see her again," murmured Hal.
"Just because a girl is pleasant--and pretty--one can't forget all the
orders that he's working under."
Captain Jack Benson talked to himself in about the same strain, yet he
couldn't wholly get over the notion that he had been--though
helplessly--rude to a woman.
"You won't need me on deck any more, will you, sir?" asked Williamson,
saluting.
"No; I shall be on deck," Jack replied, returning the salute. "Very
likely Mr. Hastings will be here with me, for that matter."
Soon after the machinist had gone below Eph Somers returned to the deck.
"I've been posting that Kimono," Eph explained.
"Kamanako," laughed Captain Jack.
"Oh, it's all the same to me," sighed Eph. "To my untrained ear all
Japanese names sound alike."
"Whatever you do," warned Jack, "don't, hurt the poor fellow's feelings
by calling him Kimono."
"Why not?"
"Well, the Japanese are a proud and sensitive race.
"Suppose they are?"
"Do you know what 'Kimono' means, Eph?"
"Haven't even a guilty suspicion.
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