Is this man making a joke?

[ruthruss]

Hi there, can someone fill in a word for me? This is a letter written by JW Allen in 1934 to his friend Joseph Mellor who had just published "Uncle Joe's Nonsese". I sense he is telling a joke but can't figure out the word.

My transcription:
Your explanation of the
dog watch reminds me of
a missionary woman on
a P&O asking me to explain
why the watch is so called
and on professing my ig-
norance she said "Because
it is curtailed" and asked[?]
the steward to find[?] me
another [       ].

Many thanks,
Ruth

[Mike in Cumbria]

Yes it's a joke. Stephen Maturin makes the same joke in Patrick O'Brian's "Master and Commander" series of books. I assumed that O'Brian had made up the joke so it's interesting to see an earlier version.
(The dog watch is a shorter watch, hence the joke.)

[Jamjar]

it is curtailed" and asked[?]

it is curtailed" and I asked

Jamjar

[ruthruss]

Yes it's a joke. Stephen Maturin makes the same joke in Patrick O'Brian's "Master and Commander" series of books. I assumed that O'Brian had made up the joke so it's interesting to see an earlier version.
(The dog watch is a shorter watch, hence the joke.)

Ah right. So what is the very last word there, then?

[ruthruss]

it is curtailed" and asked[?]

it is curtailed" and I asked

Jamjar

Thank you!

[mckha489]

Could the last word be “seat”?

[ruthruss]

Could the last word be “seat”?

Could be. Somehow that makes it even funnier