Well, then, we must take
good care of him, as she won't be back for a week; and you know, mister,
you needn't trouble yourself more about him."

"Faith, marm, it's not I will be after leaving the young master till I
see him safe in his uncle's hands," answered Larry, with a rap on his
thigh. "So I'll just trouble you to give us a room with a couple of
beds in it, and we'll take up our quarters here till the cutter comes
back."

This arrangement of course pleased the worthy Mrs Timmins, as she got
two guests instead of one; and I thus found myself established for a
week at Portsmouth. Having selected our chamber, we went into the
coffee-room and ordered dinner. There were several youngsters there,
and other junior officers of the profession, for the "Star and Garter"
was at that time more frequented than the far-famed "Blue Posts." At
first some of the younger portion of the guests were a little inclined
to look superciliously at Larry and me; but he stuck out his timber toe,
and returned their glances with such calm independence, that they soon
suspected he was not made of the stuff to laugh at; and they then showed
an evident disposition to enter into conversation with him to discover
who he could be. This, for my sake, he did not wish them to do; for, as
he was to act the part of guardian, he thought it incumbent on him to
keep up his dignity.

We passed, to me, a very interesting time at Portsmouth. We constantly
visited the dockyard, which was my delight. He took me over the
_Victory_, and showed me the spot where Nelson fell; and with old
associations many a tale and anecdote which, long since forgotten, now
returned to his memory, he poured into my eager ear.

Some people declare, and naval men even do so, that there's no romance
in a seafaring life--that it's all hard, dirty, slaving work, without
anything to repay one, except prize-money in war time and promotion in
peace. Now, to my mind, there's a great deal of romance and chivalry
and excitement, and ample recompense in the life itself; and this Larry,
who ought to have known, for he had seen plenty of hard service, had
himself discovered. It is that some do not know where to look for the
romance, and if found, cannot appreciate it. The stern realities of a
sea life--its hardships, its dangers, its battles, its fierce contests
with the elements, its triumphs over difficulties--afford to some souls
a pleasure which ignobler ones cannot feel: I