w what he could point
to."

"Perhaps his conscience pricked him, George, for not having made more
of you while here. I 'd almost say it might with some justice."

"I think they have shown us great attention--have been most hospitable
and courteous to us."

"I 'm not a fair witness, for I have no sort of gratitude for social
civilities. I think it's always the host is the obliged person."

"I know you do," said he, smiling.

"Who knows," said she, warmly, "if he has not found out that the 'young
fellow the boys were so fond of' was worthy of favor in higher quarters?
Eh, George, might not this give the clew to the reparation he speaks
of?"

"I can make nothing of it," said he, as he tossed the letter on the
table with an impatient movement. "I 'll tell you what I 'll do,
Julia," cried he, after a pause. "I'll take the letter over to Castello
to-morrow, and ask Augustus if he feels at liberty to read it to me; if
he opine not, I 'll get him to _seal_ it then and there."

"But suppose he consents to read it, and suppose it should contain
something, I 'll not say offensive, but something disagreeable,
something that you certainly would not wish to have said; will you be
satisfied at being the listener while he reads it?"

"I think I 'd rather risk that than bear my present uncertainty."

"And if you 'll let me, George, I 'll go with you, I 'll loiter about
the grounds, and you can tell Nelly where to find me, if she wishes to
see me."

"By the way, she asked me why you had not been to Castello; but my head
being very full of other things, I forgot to tell you; and then there
was something else I was to say."

"Try and remember it, George," said she, coaxingly.

"What was it? Was it?--no--it couldn't have been about Lord Culduff
carrying away the doctor to his own room, and having him there full half
an hour in consultation before he saw Colonel Bramleigh."

"Did he do that?"

"Yes. It was some redness, or some heat, or something or other that
he remarked about his ears after eating. No, no; it was n't that. I
remember all about it now. It was a row that Jack got into with his
Admiral; he did n't report himself, or he reported to the wrong man, or
he went on board when he ought n't; in fact, he did something irregular,
and the Admiral used some very hard language, and Jack rejoined, and the
upshot is he's to be brought before a court-martial; at least he fears
so."

"Poor fellow: what is to become of him?