for duty for many weeks to come.
Reginald at once went home, and Harry accompanied me. If nobody else
was proud of him, Susan at all events was, and I had good reason to be
thankful that I had such a wife to look after me. The same evening
Reginald came down and begged Harry to come to the house, as his father
and mother and all the ladies were anxious to see him. Reginald had
been giving a full account of Harry's gallantry, and I suspect from what
Susan heard, that Miss Fanny had somewhat betrayed her feelings. Harry
came back in high spirits, accompanied by Reginald, to help him along; I
was altogether laid up, and, though Harry could not walk far, he managed
to get every day to the captain's house. In less than ten days he
received his commission as lieutenant.

"I knew you would!" I exclaimed as he held it up proudly to me. "All
you wanted was the opportunity, and you got that."

"I hope that Reginald will get his too!" he exclaimed, "for he deserves
it, as he would have done the same had he had the chance I got. I must
go up to the captain's, and tell them," he said.

"I was on the point of cautioning him about his behaviour to Miss Fanny,
but I had not the heart just then to do it, he looked so proud and
happy. Off he went, and didn't come back till late in the evening, as
he had been asked to stop and dine. Next day he had to go over to
Portsmouth to order his uniform.

"I must go up and see Miss Fanny first," he said; "she told me that the
captain spoke so highly of me that she is satisfied he would not object
to our marriage. I shall have, as you know, a good share of
prize-money, and we think that we shall have enough to keep house; so
she was to tell the captain this morning, and we hope to have it all
settled.

"I don't like to damp your spirits, Harry," I said, "but, my dear boy,
don't be too sure; the captain could do nothing else than speak highly
of your conduct; but that makes me think, as I have all along, that he
never dreamt of his daughter and you falling in love with each other.
However, you are bound to go up and hear what he has to say, and if he
is not pleased, don't show any anger, but say that you will wait
patiently till you have gained another step in rank, or have discovered
who are your parents; and that if it should be proved that your family
is not inferior to his, that you hope he will then withdraw any
objections he may at present entertain."

"I trust that I shall no