al to
all claims as a legatee."

"Well, sir, I suppose flag-officers can do pretty much as they please
with their money, since they do pretty much as they please with the
ships, and all in them. I must lean so much the harder on my two old
aunts, as I appear to have laid myself directly athwart-hawse of
fortune, in this affair!"

"Gentlemen," said the rear-admiral, with easy courtesy, "I regret it is
not in my power to have your company at dinner, to-day, as I am summoned
ashore by Sir Gervaise, and it is uncertain when I can get off, again;
but to-morrow I shall hope to enjoy that pleasure."

The officers bowed, expressed their acknowledgments, accepted the
invitation, bowed once or twice more each, and left the cabin, with the
exception of the midshipman.

"Well, sir," exclaimed Bluewater, a little surprised at finding he was
not alone, after a minute of profound reverie; "to what request am I
indebted still for the pleasure of your presence?"

"Why, sir, it's just forty miles to my father's house in Cornwall, and I
know the whole family is there; so I just fancied, that by bending on
two extra horses, a chaise might make the Park gates in about five
hours; and by getting under way on the return passage, to-morrow about
this time, the old Caesar would never miss a crazy reefer, more or less."

"Very ingeniously put, young gentleman, and quite plausible. When I was
of your age, I was four years without once seeing either father or
mother."

"Yes, sir, but that was such a long time ago! Boys can't stand it, half
as well now, as they did then, as all old people say."

The rear-admiral's lips moved slightly, as if a smile struggled about
his mouth; then his face suddenly lost the expression, in one
approaching to sadness.

"You know, Geoffrey, I am not commander-in-chief. Sir Gervaise alone can
give a furlough."

"Very true, sir; but whatever you ask of Sir Gervaise, he always does;
more especially as concerns us of your flag-ship."

"Perhaps that is true. But, my boy, we live in serious times, and we may
sail at an hour's notice. Are you ignorant that Prince Charles Edward
has landed in Scotland, and that the Jacobites are up and doing? If the
French back him, we may have our hands full here, in the channel."

"Then my dear mother must go without a kiss, for the next twelvemonth!"
cried the gallant boy, dashing a hand furtively across his eyes, in
spite of his resolution. "The throne of old England must be