Jack Oldcastle says the Clevelands are all civilians, as he calls 'em; or _soldiers_, which isn't much better, as you know, sir.

Now, I tell him that there is an old picture of one of 'em, with an anchor-button, and that was long before Queen Anne's time--Queen Elizabeth's, perhaps,--and then you know, sir, I fetch him up with a yarn about the Hedworths; for I am just as much Hedworth as Cleveland." "And what does the impudent dog say to that, Geoffrey ?" "Why, sir, he says the name should be spelt Head_work_, and that they were all _lawyers_.

But I gave him as good as he sent for that saucy speech, I'm certain!" "And what did you give him, in return for such a compliment?
Did you tell him the Oldcastles were just so much stone, and wood, and old iron; and that, too, in a tumbledown condition ?" "No, sir, not I," answered the boy, laughing; "I didn't think of any answer half so clever; and so I just gave him a dig in the nose, and that, laid on with right good will." "And how did he receive that argument?
Was it conclusive;--or did the debate continue ?" "Oh, of course, sir, we fought it out.

'Twas on board the Dover, and the first lieutenant saw fair play.

Jack carried too many guns for me, sir, for he's more than a year older; but I hulled him so often that he owned it was harder work than being mast-headed.