An oil-lamp on a deal-table cast a dismal glare over the apartment, which was cheerless in the extreme.  I thought of our sitting-room at home, with its flowery wall-paper and gay curtains and soft lounges; I saw Major Elkanah Nutter (my grandfather’s father) in powdered wig and Federal uniform, looking down benevolently from his gilt frame between the bookcases; I pictured the Captain and Miss Abigail sitting at the cosey round table in the moon-like glow of the astral lamp; and then I fell to wondering how they would receive me when I came back.  I wondered if the Prodigal Son had any idea that his father was going to kill the fatted calf for him, and how he felt about it, on the whole.

Though I was very low in spirits, I put on a bold front to Sailor Ben, you will understand.  To be caught and caged in this manner was a frightful shock to my vanity.  He tried to draw me into conversation; but I answered in icy monosyllables.  He again suggested we should make a night of it, and hinted broadly that he was game for any amount of riotous dissipation, even to the extent of going to see a play if I wanted to.  I declined haughtily.  I was dying to go.

He then threw out a feeler on the subject of dominos and checkers, and observed in a general way that “seven up” was a capital game; but I repulsed him at every point.

I saw that the Admiral was beginning to feel hurt by my systematic coldness.  ’We had always been such hearty friends until now.  It was too bad of me to fret that tender, honest old heart even for an hour.  I really did love the ancient boy, and when, in a disconsolate way, he ordered up a pitcher of beer, I unbent so far as to partake of some in a teacup.  He recovered his spirits instantly, and took out his cuddy clay pipe for a smoke.

Between the beer and the soothing fragrance of the navy-plug, I fell into a pleasanter mood myself, and, it being too late now to go to the theatre, I condescended to say—­addressing the northwest corner of the ceiling—­that “seven up” was a capital game.  Upon this hint the Admiral disappeared, and returned shortly with a very dirty pack of cards.

As we played, with varying fortunes, by the flickering flame of the lamp, he sipped his beer and became communicative.  He seemed immensely tickled by the fact that I had come to Boston.  It leaked out presently that he and the Captain had had a wager on the subject.

The discovery of my plans and who had discovered them were points on which the Admiral refused to throw any light.  They had been discovered, however, and the Captain had laughed at the idea of my running away.  Sailor Ben, on the contrary, had stoutly contended that I meant to slip cable and be off.  Whereupon the Captain offered to bet him a dollar that I wouldn’t go.  And it was partly on account of this wager that Sailor Ben refrained from capturing me when he might have done so at the start.

Now, as the fare to and from Boston, with the lodging expenses, would cost him at least five dollars, I didn’t see what he gained by winning the wager.  The Admiral rubbed his nose violently when this view of the case presented itself.