I imagine that his youth stood in good stead to Mr.Powell.

Oh, yes.

Youth is a power.

Even Captain Anthony had to take some notice of it, as if it refreshed him to see something untouched, unscarred, unhardened by suffering.

Or perhaps the very novelty of that face, on board a ship where he had seen the same faces for years, attracted his attention.
Whether one day he dropped a word to his new second officer or only looked at him I don't know; but Mr.Powell seized the opportunity whatever it was.