“Well,” said Breeze, “you know a good deal more about yourself than I do about myself. I suppose I must have had a real father and mother, but I never knew them, for I was picked up at sea, floating in a cask, when I was a baby. I am almost certain I must be an American, though, for I know I could never love any other country so well. I’m glad you are going to be one too, as soon as you can. Don’t you think I look more like an American than anything else?” he inquired, a little anxiously. “I don’t know,” replied the other, regarding him attentively. “Yes, on the whole I think perhaps you do. Still, with light hair and blue eyes, you know, you might be a Scandinavian, or a Dutchman, or an Englishman, or a Scotchman, or even an Irishman.” They both laughed at this, and Breeze said, “You might as well quote ‘Pinafore’ at once and be done with it.” So the conversation between the two, which had been rather constrained at first, became more easy and confidential, until they found themselves discussing each other’s hopes and plans with the freedom of old friends. Every now and then a shadow would sweep over Wolfe’s face, and he would speak in a lower tone as he thought of the probable fate of his recent shipmates. Still, as grieving could do neither them nor him the slightest good, he tried to keep cheerful, by remembering how marvellously he himself had been spared. He confessed to Breeze that he had caused his parents much trouble and anxiety, by his manner of life, both in school and at home, but declared that now he really meant to turn over a new leaf. “I’ll begin by writing to my mother as soon as ever we reach port,” he said, “for it makes me feel ashamed of myself to remember that I have not sent home a single line since I left there. I do not suppose they have the slightest idea what has become of me, or whether I am alive or dead.” To Breeze, his mother was so near and dear, he had thought of her and written to her so often even during his short absence from home, that Wolfe’s account of his own neglect was most surprising. Still, he did not feel at liberty to express his feelings in the matter, and only said, “I would, if I were you, by all means; she must be feeling awfully at not hearing.”