g, I am as happy as a
prince. As far as I myself am concerned I have no reasonable want
unsupplied, though I should like to have your very natural wish complied
with."

Still week after week went by; the lieutenant wrote several other
letters, but the answers were unsatisfactory. At last he began to talk
of going up himself to town to call on the Admiralty, and to beard the
lions in their den; but it was an undertaking the thoughts of which he
dreaded far more than had he been ordered to head a boarding party
against an enemy's ship. He talked the matter over with his sister
Sally.

"If we want a thing we must go for it, if we don't want it we may stay
at home and not get it," he observed. "If I felt anything like sure
that I should succeed by pressing my claim, I'd go ten times as far; but
my belief is, that I shall be sent back with a flea in my ear."

"Still, what can poor Ned do if he doesn't go to sea, though I wish that
we could have found him some employment on shore suited to his taste,"
said Miss Sarah.

"Well, I'll make up my mind about the matter," said the lieutenant, who
was as anxious as his sister to forward Ned's wishes. "I can but ask,
you know, and if I am refused, I shall have good reason for grumbling
for the next year to come, or to the end of my days. I'll go and talk
the subject over with Hanson; he knows more about the ways of the
Admiralty than I do, and will give me a wrinkle or two. In the meantime
do you get my old uniform brushed up and my traps ready."

Next morning the old lieutenant, summoning Ned, set off to pay a visit
to his brother officer. Ned was in high spirits at hearing that steps
were actually being taken to promote his object, and he expressed his
gratitude to his uncle for the effort he was about to make on his
behalf. All difficulties seemed to vanish, and he already saw himself a
midshipman on board a fine ship sailing down channel.

Lieutenant Hanson was not very sanguine when he heard of his friend's
intention.

"There is nothing like asking, however, and they can't eat you, though
you may be refused," he answered. "Go by all means; get to the
Admiralty early, step boldly in, and show that you fully expect to have
your request granted. Say that the boy will soon be over age, and
consequently there is no time to be lost." [See Note 1.]

Although the old lieutenant had not received much encouragement from Mr
Hanson, yet some of the difficulties he had a