noon
Old Bill 's labours were at length rewarded with success , `` Captain '' -- as he loved to be styled -- Turnbull 's address in London being definitely ascertained , together with the gratifying intelligence that he still retained the command of the _ Betsy Jane _ . Matters having progressed thus far satisfactorily , old Bill 's next business was to write to `` Captain '' Turnbull , asking him if he could receive Bob on board ; and in about a month 's time a favourable answer was received , naming a day upon which Bob was to run up to London and sign articles . Bob 's departure from Brightlingsea was regarded by his numerous friends in the village quite in the light of an event ; and when the morning came , and with it the market-cart which was to convey him and his belongings , together with old Bill , to Colchester , where they were to take train to London , nearly all the fishermen in the place , to say nothing of their wives and little ones , turned out to say farewell . The journey was accomplished in safety and without adventure ; and shortly after noon Bill and Bob found themselves threading their way through the narrow crowded streets to the `` captain 's '' address , somewhere in the neighbourhood of Wapping . On reaching the house the gallant skipper was found to be at home , in the act of partaking , together with his wife and family , of the mid-day meal , which on that occasion happened to be composed of `` pickled pork and taturs . '' Old Bill and Bob were gruffly but cordially invited to join the family circle , which they did ; Bob making a thoroughly hearty meal , quite unmoved by the coquettish endeavours of Miss Turnbull , a stout , good-tempered , but not particularly beautiful damsel of some seventeen summers , to attract the attention and excite the admiration of `` pa 's handsome new sailor . '' `` Captain '' Turnbull proved to be a very stout but not very tall man , with a somewhat vacant expression of feature , and a singular habit of looking fixedly and in apparent amazement for a full minute at anyone who happened to address him .