His introverted steward. It's sweet; he wonders if Jopson would have survived in a workhouse somewhere, and feels a pang of gratitude that he's made it here into the navy. Better money, infinitely less miserable, as long as one can stand the danger and graft.

"I'm aware." Easy enough. Crozier doesn't critique his eating habits — as long as he doesn't starve himself (foreshadowing is a literary device) — but he notices, as he notices plenty. Far less able to devote time to lurking and taking mental notes, but a captain must stay informed about how his crewmen operate. Jopson included. "But I thought I might impose on your time more tonight, if you don't mind."

And so he wouldn't want him to go hungry, if indeed he doesn't mind. Which he is of course free to (mind). Crozier will never require him to play along.