it is a glorious day with the sun shining and the wind whipping the shannon 's flags about , and she looks in wonderful trim all polished and painted , and i trips it up the gangway and the officer of the watch , who is a very well-turned-out young man , comes up before me and says , `` i 'm sorry , miss , but no females are allowed on board without- '' `` begging your pardon , sir '' -and here i does my best and lowest curtsy and brings the eyes up under the eyelashes- '' i come not to visit but merely to ask that you carry this letter to my very dear friend midshipman james fletcher of 9 brattle lane in london , '' and i hand him the letter .