He met both shifts on a
Friday, and said, "Now, men, I'm not a bad sort even if I _am_
determined not to have a scamped nail in my vessel. Now you're working
hard, and we'll show the prettiest vessel in England presently, so
to-morrow we'll have two brakes here at eleven o'clock, all who like
will drive to a certain little place that I know of, and we'll have a
rare good dinner together, and come home in the evening. We'll have no
spirits, and no shaky hands for Monday. Plenty of good, pure spring
water with orange champagne for those who like it."
This was a very successful announcement, and Robert presided at table
with extreme satisfaction on account of his own Machiavellian
astuteness. Oh! those millionaires. What chances they have!
The scene at the launch of the _Robert Cassall_ was imposing. The Queen,
it was thought, would be present; but an intensely exciting and close
general election had just taken place, and Her Majesty was occupied with
relays of the gentlemen who are good enough to carry on the operation
known as Governing the Country; so that the bunting and the manifold
decorations served to grace the progress of a Royal Duke, who brought
his August Mother's message.
I have nothing to do with the speeches this time; I only know that the
steamer looked superb, with her gay stripe, and her beautiful trim on
the water. The town was in a state of excitement until nightfall, and
the people who had tickets to view the Fisherman's Palace passed in a
steady and orderly procession over the broad deck; through the smart
main ward with its polished oak floor; through the operating-room, and
through the comfortable, unostentatious club-room, which had been
designed by Lewis Ferrier.
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