so much you do not have to give way. It would be most inconvenient for you at this moment of taking up your command.
The stratagem was working; with something important to think about other than the condition of her stomach Barbara was forgetting her own qualms.
I hope I shall last out, said Hornblower; he tried to grin a brave reluctant grin, and although he was no actor Barbaras wits were sufficiently dulled not to see through him. Hornblowers conscience pricked him when he saw that this stolid mock-heroism of his was making her fonder of him than ever. Her eyes were soft for him.
Stand by to go about! bellowed the captain of the lugger, and Hornblower looked up in surprise to see that they were close up under the stern of the Nonsuch . She had some canvas showing forward and her mizzen-topsail backed so as to set her across the wind a trifle and give the lugger a lee on her starboard side. Hornblower flung back his boat cloak and stood clear so that he could be seen from the quarter-deck of the Nonsuch ; for Bushs sake, if for no other reason, he did not want to come on board without due warning. Then he turned to Barbara.
Its time to say good-bye, dear, he said.
Her face was without expression, like that of a marine under inspection.
Good-bye, dearest! she said. Her lips were cold, and she did not incline towards him to offer them, but stood stiffly upright. It was like kissing a marble statue. Then she melted suddenly. Ill cherish Richard, darling. Our child.
Barbara could have said nothing to endear her more to Hornblower. He crushed her hands in his.
The lugger came up into the wind, her canvas volleying, and then she shot into the two-deckers lee. Hornblower glanced up; there was a bosuns chair dangling ready to lower to the lugger.
Belay that chair! he yelled, and then to the captain, Lay us alongside.
Hornblower had no intention of being swung up to the deck in a bosuns chair; it was too undignified a way of taking up his new command to be swung aboard legs dangling. The lugger surged beside the big ship; the painted ports were level with his shoulder, and beneath him boiled the green water confined between the two vessels. This was a nervous moment. If he were to miss his footing and fall into the sea so that he would have to be hauled in wet and dripping it would be far more undignified than any entrance in a bosuns chair. He let fall his cloak, pulled his hat firmly on to his head, and hitched his sword round out of his way. Then he leaped across the yard-wide gap, scrambling upwards the moment fingers and toes made contact. It was only the first three feet which were difficult; after that the tumble-home of the Nonsuch s side made it easy. He was even able to pause to collect himself before making the final ascent to the entry-port and to step down to the deck with all the dignity to be expected of a Commodore.
Professionally speaking, this was the highest moment of his career up to now. As a captain he had grown accustomed to a captains honours, the bosuns mates twittering on their pipes, the four side-boys and the marine sentries. But now he was a Commodore taking up his command; there were six side-boys with their white gloves, there was the whole marine guard and the marine band, a long double lane of bosuns mates with their pipes, and at the end of the lane a crowd of officers in full dress. As he set his foot on the deck the drums beat a ruffle in competition with the bosuns calls, and then the fifes of the band struck up Heart of oak are our ships, Jolly tars are our men With his hand at the salute Hornblower strode up the lane of bosuns mates and side-boys; all this was peculiarly exhilarating despite his efforts to tell himself that these outward signs of the dignity of his position were mere childish baubles. He had to check himself, or his face would have borne a stupid ecstatic grin; it was with difficulty that he forced himself to assume the stern composure a Commodore should display. There was Bush at the end of the lane, saluting stiffly, and standing effortlessly despite his wooden leg, and it was so pleasant to see Bush that he had to fight down his grin all over again.
Good morning, Captain Bush, he said, as gruffly as he knew how, and offering his hand with all he could manage of formal cordiality.
Good morning, sir.
Bush brought down his hand from the salute and grasped Hornblowers, trying hard to act his part, as if there was no friendship in this handshake but mere professional esteem. Hornblower noted that his hand was as hard as everpromotion to captains rank had not softened it. And try as he would Bush could not keep his face expressionless. The blue eyes were alight with pleasure, and
the craggy features kept softening into a smile as they escaped from his control. It made it harder than ever for Hornblower to remain dignified.
Out of the tail of his eye Hornblower saw a seaman hauling briskly at the main signal halyards. A black ball was soaring up the mast, and as it reached the block a twitch of the seamans wrist broke it out. It was the Commodores broad pendant, hoisted to distinguish the ship he was in, and as the pendant broke out a puff of smoke forward and a loud bang marked the first gun of the salute which welcomed it. This was the highest, the greatest moment of allthousands upon thousands of naval officers could serve all their lives and never have a distinguishing pendant hoisted for them, never hear a single gun fired in their honour. Hornblower could not help smiling now. His last reserve was broken down; he met Bushs eye and he laughed outright, and Bush laughed with him. They were like a pair of schoolboys exulting over a successful bit of mischief. It was extraordinarily pleasant to be aware that Bush was not only pleased at serving with him again, but was also pleased just because Hornblower was pleased.