"Good morning, sir," he said, and said it in such a way as to
convey a subtle compliment.
"Is it getting rough outside?" I said - I knew about the inside.
"Thank you," he said; "the sea 'as got up a bit, sir - thank you,
sir."
I was gratified - nay more, I was flattered. And it was so delicately
done too. I really did not have the heart to tell him that I was
not solely responsible - that I had, so to speak, collaborators;
but Lubly stood ready always to accord me a proper amount of
recognition for everything that happened on that ship. Only the
next day, I think it was, I asked him where we were. This occurred
on deck. He had just answered a lady who wanted to know whether
we should have good weather on the day we landed at Fishguard and
whether we should get in on time. Without a moment's hesitation
he told her; and then he turned to me with the air of giving credit
where credit is due, and said:
"Thank you, sir - we are just off the Banks, thank you."
Lubly ran true to form. The British serving classes are ever like
that, whether met with at sea or on their native soil. They are
a great and a noble institution. Give an English servant a kind
word and he thanks you.
