"That's right, sir," cried the carpenter; "only just wants doing up, and a bit of paint, and then all you'd have to do would be to order a 'technicum van or two of new furniture out of Totney Court Road, or elsewhere. And an other nice little job for me to lay down the carpets and hang the picturs, and it would be just lovely." "Well, you seem in a nice temper, Chips," said Poole. "Temper, Mr Poole! Why, I feel as soft and gentle as a baby. I arn't got nothing to grumble at." "And if you had you are the very last person in the world to say a word; eh, Chips?" "Hear that, Mr Burnett, sir? That's Mr Poole, that is! He's known me two years and a narf, which means ever since he come on his first voyage, when I teached him how to handle an adze without cutting off his pretty little toes. If ever I wanted my character, Mr Burnett, sir, I should refer captains and other such to Mr Poole Reed, as knows me from the top of my head down to the parts I put lowest in my shoes." "Look here, Chips, I want you to get to work. Whatever is the matter now?" "Oh, nothing at all, sir; nothing at all! Carn't you see how I am smiling all over my face?" "Oh yes, I know your smile. Now then, speak out. What do you want? What is there wrong?" "Oh, nothing worth speaking of, Mr Poole. I arn't the sort of fellow to grumble, Mr Burnett, sir; but now just look here, gentlemen.--Get out, will you! Bother the flies! I wish I could 'ford to keep a nigger with a whisk made out of a horse's tail. They are regular tarrifying me to-day. I wouldn't keer if I could kill one now and then; but I carn't. Either they're too fast or I'm too slow. But now just look here, both on you, gentlemen. Here's a pretty position for a fellow to be in! Nobody can't say even in this hot country as I arn't willing to work my spell, but here's the skipper says to me, he says, `I want you to do everything you can,' he says; `take what men you want, and make this 'ere aitch--he--hay--ender as strong as you can.' Now, I ask you, just give your eyes a quick turn round the place and tell me, as orficers as knows what's what, how am I to make a thing strong as arn't strong, and where there arn't a bit of stuff to do it with? For what's the good of a lot of bamboo-cane when what one wants is a load of good honest English oak, or I wouldn't say no to a bit of teak." "Well, it is a ramshackle sort of place, certainly, Chips."