Дети капитана Гранта

           ButwhileJohnManglesmadethestowageandprovisioningoftheyachthischiefbusiness,hedidnotforgettofituptheroomsofLordandLadyGlenarvanforalongvoyage.HehadalsotogetcabinsreadyforthechildrenofCaptainGrant,asLadyHelenacouldnotrefuseMary’srequesttoaccompanyher.

           AsforyoungRobert,hewouldhavesmuggledhimselfinsomewhereintheholdoftheDuncanratherthanbeleftbehind.Hewouldwillinglyhavegoneascabin-boy,likeNelson.Itwasimpossibletoresistalittlefellowlikethat,and,indeed,noonetried.Hewouldnotevengoasapassenger,butmustserveinsomecapacity,ascabin-boy,apprenticeorsailor,hedidnotcarewhich,sohewasputinchargeofJohnMangles,tobeproperlytrainedforhisvocation.

           "AndIhopehewon’tsparemethe‘cat-o-nine-tails’ifIdon’tdoproperly,"saidRobert.

           "Resteasyonthatscore,myboy,"saidLordGlenarvan,gravely;hedidnotadd,thatthismodeofpunishmentwasforbiddenonboardtheDuncan,andmoreover,wasquiteunnecessary.

           Tocompletetherollofpassengers,wemustnameMajorMcNabbs.TheMajorwasaboutfiftyyearsofage,withacalmfaceandregularfeatures—amanwhodidwhateverhewastold,ofanexcellent,indeed,aperfecttemper;modest,silent,peaceable,andamiable,agreeingwitheverybodyoneverysubject,neverdiscussing,neverdisputing,nevergettingangry.Hewouldn’tmoveastepquicker,orslower,whetherhewalkedupstairstobedormountedabreach.Nothingcouldexcitehim,nothingcoulddisturbhim,notevenacannonball,andnodoubthewilldiewithouteverhavingknownevenapassingfeelingofirritation.