The Victory Read Online Free PDF Page B

about her troubles,' Weston said. 'Sea trials suggest that she's in a bad way.'
    ‘ I'm afraid so,' Haworth said with a rueful smile. 'You were congratulating me on an early appointment, but if Africa has to go back into dock, you may well be at sea before me.'
    ‘ Have you got your old crew back?' Weston wanted to know.
    ‘ A large number of them. As soon as the word went round that Africa was commissioning, they started to volunteer. It was most touching.'
    ‘ It's a tribute to you,' Lucy said, 'that they should be so loyal.’
    Haworth smiled. 'You mustn't make too much of it. They know they will be pressed anyway, sooner or later. By volun teering they get the bounty, and the choice of ship.'
    ‘ Well, at all events, you are spared the problem of man ning,' Lucy said.
    ‘ I shall still have to take my share of quota-men, but I'll probably sail short-handed at first. It won't matter for the trials, and Their Lordships are anxious to have them completed as soon as possible.'
    ‘ I'm astonished they are granting you time for trials at all,' Weston grinned. 'They don't usually flinch from sending men to sea in sinking ships. Remember the poor old Rochester, that fell to pieces in calm weather off Martiniqe in '91?'
    ‘ That reminds me,' Haworth said to Lucy. 'I was talking to Nepean just before I walked up here, and he said that a report has come in from Santo Domingo which will be of interest to you.'
    ‘My brother William?’
    Haworth bowed. The Argus was in a successful single-ship action with a French seventy-four, the Glorieux. The French man struck after a spirited defence, but both ships were badly damaged, and Captain Morland had much to do to get them to Kingston to refit.'
    ‘ He won't be sorry to stay there a while, I imagine,' Weston said. 'I hear the Yellow Jack is raging all through Hispaniola.'
    ‘ William's had it, years ago,' Lucy said. 'But his wife and child are in Kingston, so I expect he'll be glad to be there for that reason. And talking of children —'
    ‘Yes, I had meant to bring up the subject,' Haworth said apologetically. 'The thing is, you see —'
    ‘No need to explain,' Lucy said firmly. 'Your girls can go to Wolvercote and stay as long as you wish. Miss Trotton is an excellent governess, and it can make no difference to anyone there how many children they have to look after. They have nothing else to do for three-fourths of the year.'
    ‘ It is more than generous of you, ma'am,' Haworth said, 'and I do believe it's what Hippolyta wants more than anything. She misses your daughter Flaminia very much.'
    ‘ I always told you she would,' Lucy said, 'though I suppose Farleigh has enjoyed having her back. How is old Farleigh?'
    ‘ She has not been at all well recently, and though she loves the children dearly, I think she finds them wearing. She wants to retire. She has family in Devon, and her savings, and I don't feel I ought to stand in her way.'
    ‘ I never thought of Farleigh's having family,' Lucy said in surprise. 'In all the years she was Mary's personal maid, I never once heard her mention a relative.'
    ‘ Commonly the lot of servants, I imagine,' Weston murmured, lifting his hands from his knees so that his cat Jeffrey could jump up. Jeffrey turned round three times and settled, his claws clenching and unclenching in delight, his rusty purr throbbing like an engine as he flattened his head up under Weston's hand.
    ‘ Well, it doesn't matter,' Lucy had continued. 'Let her go as soon as she likes. I can send a servant down to collect the girls, if you can't bring them yourself.'
    ‘ It would be helpful if you could send someone for Polly,' Haworth began, and Lucy interrupted him.
    ‘Polly? You don't mention Africa.'
    ‘ I've seen it coming these ten minutes,' Weston said. 'Look at that guilty expression! Let me save you the trouble of explaining, Haworth. You want to take your younger brat to sea with you again. How old is she now?'
    ‘ Nearly five. We've never been