"Very well; be it so.  Write your letter, by all means, and I will enclose a few lines in it.  And,"--suddenly, in a much more cheerful tone of voice, as an idea seemed to suggest itself to him--"I'll tell you what I'll do, Dick, I'll run over to Portsmouth with you, and stay for a few days.  A little change will do me good; and I should like very much to see this new ship of yours, as well as to meet Vavassour again, whom I have not seen for quite a number of years.  Yes, certainly, I will go over with you."