1001 Classic Short Stories & Tales

"A Love Passage" is a lighthearted maritime comedy from W.W. Jacobs' 1896 collection, Many Cargoes, that satirizes the bumbling romantic efforts of sailors.  The Plot The story follows the mate of a schooner who decides, with somewhat clinical detachment, that it is time for him to fall in love. When the skipper brings his daughter on board for a voyage, the mate sees an opportunity and begins an exaggerated performance of romance.  Performing "Love": The mate's idea of courtship is highly theatrical; he begins to mope, loses his appetite, and spends an inordinate amount of time washing and preening, much to the annoyance of the skipper. The Misunderstanding: Most of his "lovelorn" gazing goes unnoticed by the girl. While the mate believes he is deep in a profound, melancholy romance, the girl remains oblivious or merely amused by his strange behavior. The Climax: The humor peaks when the mate's attempts to appear sophisticated or "stricken" by love conflict with his actual duties on the ship, leading to comi