“I don’t know so much!” said the mate. “He wasn’t too far wrong! Ever since that, they’ve been the death of our profession, Steam and the Church⁠ ⁠… what with steaming, and what with preaching, and steaming and preaching.⁠ ⁠… Now that’s a funny thing,” he broke off, suddenly interested by what he was saying: “ Steam and the Church ! What have they got in common, eh? Nothing, you’d say: you’d think they’d fight each other cat-and-dog: but no: they’re thick as two thieves⁠ ⁠… thick as thieves.⁠—Not like in the days of Parson Audain.”

“Who was he?” asked Margaret helpfully.

“He was a right sort of a parson, he was, yn wyr iawn ! He was Rector of Roseau⁠—oh, a long time back.”

“Here! Come and take this wheel while I have a spell!” grunted the captain.