Frederick was confused at Anne's attempts at continued conversation when she said she would go to see her sister. And for his own part, Frederick was torn between wanting to continue the conversation as well and finishing it quickly before he could think on Anne for much longer.
And yet, hadn't he once said with a few compliments to the navy, he would be a lost man? Before he could spare himself any moment for that irony, Frederick thought of an answer to Anne's observation instead. "When stuck at sea, any coast will look better than the next. Though, when at war, one might not appreciate the French coastlines nearly as much. At the same time, a familiar coastline or port of call is more welcome when sailing home."