‘Take your hands out of your pockets. When did you last write home?’ Mr Babbington was at an age when almost any question evokes a guilty response, and this was, in fact, a valid accusation. He reddened, and said, ‘I don’t know, sir.’ ‘Think, sir, think,’ said Jack, his good-tempered face clouding unexpectedly. ‘What port did you send it from? Mahon? Leghorn? Genoa? Gibraltar? Well, never mind.’ There was no dark figure to be made out on that distant beach. ‘Never mind. Write a handsome letter. Two pages at least. And send it in to me with your daily workings tomorrow. Give your father my
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