H.M.S. "PINAFORE"
ship-rules he loudly summoned all the crew to the quarter deck.
"Why! what's all this?" said Mr. Bobstay. "Is the ship on fire, or have they made you Port Admiral?"
"Neither," gasped Ralph. "I have told Josephine of my love, and she has scornfully rejected me!"
"Ah! what did I tell you!" said the crew, as one man.
"Well, Ralph," said Bobstay, "I was afraid you were over sanguine."
"Aye, aye," said Dick Deadeye, "it was too much to expect."
"Will somebody, please, take this chap away and put his head in the flour-bin," said Mr. Bobstay. "His sentiments are simply disgraceful."
And two brawny sailors took poor Dick away (kicking meekly) and dipped his head into the flour-bin until he assured them that he would behave better in future.
"Life is no longer worth living," said Ralph. "Has anybody got such a thing as a pistol handy?"
Mr. Bobstay was overcome with emotion, for he loved Ralph rather better than his own mother;
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