er's "vulgar curiosity" as he styled it,
saying he was always prying and poking his nose into other people's
affairs; although, I honestly believe my worthy old cock-eyed friend
only took a laudable interest in my welfare, as indeed he did in the
business of everybody who patronised the hotel. "You can leave the
letter, waiter, and likewise the room!"

"For me?" said I, taking up the missive, which was inscribed on the
outside in large printed characters "On Her Majesty's Service,"
similarly to the one which had brought my nomination from the Admiralty.
"I wonder Dad, what it contains! I suppose, it will tell whether I
have passed my examination or not?"

"Open it, Jack," said Dad, as soon as the waiter had left the room,
flicking his napkin viciously over the sideboard which he passed on his
way to the door as if he was considerably huffed at not being admitted
to our confidence. "Let us hear the news at once, good or bad.
Suspense, you know, my boy, is worse than hanging."

"No, I can't, Dad, I feel too nervous," I replied, not laughing at his
joke, as I might have done another time, although the pun was a regular
old stager, passing the yet unopened letter across the table. "You read
it, mother, please."

"You need not be alarmed Jack," said she, smiling, and pointing to the
superscription. "See, the direction on it is to `John Vernon, Esquire,
R.N.'"

"Which means, Master Jack, that you have passed!" cried Dad,
anticipating her explanation, and jumping up at once from his seat in
great excitement, the contagion of which the next instant spread to me.
"You've passed, my boy, there's no doubt about that from this address;
and, now, you really belong to Her Majesty's service, hurrah!"

Mother, though, did not say anything, and her hands trembled as she
fumbled with the letter, trying to open the envelope without tearing it.

"My boy, my boy!" she exclaimed presently, her eyes filling with tears
as she glanced at the contents of the enclosure, which she could only
dimly see; albeit, she learnt enough to know that I had passed for cadet
and was directed to join the _Illustrious_ training-ship, then stationed
at Portsmouth, like as her successor the _Britannia_ was for a long
while prior to her removal to Dartmouth. "It is as we thought, and as
you hoped, Jack. You are going to have your wish at last and leave your
father and me for your new home on the sea."

The cock-eyed waiter broke the rather melancho