not say how the words should be spelt, but Bill showed it to Mrs
Crofton, who assured him that it would be understood perfectly well,
which was the great object required, and that Madame Turgot would be
satisfied, from the tone and expression, that it came from her son.

There was no regular post in those days between the two countries.
Pierre, however, at length got an answer from his mother, directed to
the care of Mrs Crofton, expressing her heartfelt thanks to Lieutenant
Saltwell and Bill, and the kind lady who had befriended him. She sent
also many messages from Captain Turgot and Jeannette.

The letter arrived just as the _Thisbe_ was ready for sea. Mary could
not help bursting into tears when Bill took his leave for the last time.

"It's just like Oliver going away," she said. Indeed, it was evident
that she looked upon Bill as another Oliver, and even Mrs Crofton
showed how sincerely sorry she was to part with her young visitor, who
had so greatly won on her affections.

She promised to write again to Madame Turgot to let her know how Pierre
was getting on; but there appeared no probability of his being able to
move until the frigate came back, when Mr Saltwell would be able to
make arrangements for his return to France.

Though sorry to leave his kind friends, Bill was very glad to be at sea
again, and engaged in the active duties of his profession. His
messmates treated him with much kindness, and remarked among themselves
the improvement in his manners, while two or three fresh members of the
mess, when they heard how he had gained his promotion, looked upon him
with evident respect. He did not, however, forget his old friends, and
Jack was always pleased when he came forward to talk to him, and did not
appear at all jealous, which could not be said of Tom, who, though he
did not venture to show his feelings, was inclined to keep out of his
way, and sometimes answered in rather a surly tone when spoken to,
always taking care to bring in the "sir" after every sentence, and
touching his hat with mock respect, of which Bill, though he could not
fail to observe, took no notice.

The _Thisbe_ had been several weeks at sea, and had during that time
captured, without firing a shot, three of the enemy's merchantmen, which
she had sent into Plymouth, the more pugnacious of the crew grumbling at
not having encountered an enemy worthy of their prowess, and which would
have afforded them a larger amount of pri