and I'm all the better for
the discipline, though I did not like it at the time. Then I learned a
very important lesson,--that every man, whatever his position, has his
duties to perform; and that, if he does not do them to the best of his
power, he must certainly expect to be disrated."

"You mean to say that you learned this out of the man-of-war's
Homily-book,--the Station Bill," said I, smiling at my own conceit.

I must explain that this Station Bill is a book in which is entered the
place which every man on board is to occupy, as well as the duties he is
especially to attend to, though at the same time he is expected to do
his very utmost in performing any other work which may be necessary.

"That's just it," replied Sir Richard. "I used to think that the
captain of a man-of-war had a good deal to do to keep his ship in good
order; but I can tell you that I feel that the owner of a large estate
has many more and multifarious duties; and that in a great degree every
soul upon it is committed by God to his care, and at his hands will they
be required."

I fully agreed with my old messmate in these matters, and was rejoiced
to find that he had really discovered the true object of life. I am
happy to say that he was after this a very frequent visitor at Daisy
Cottage, and that ultimately one of my cousins became Lady Sharpe.
They, the Vernons and the Wallers, are among my most valued friends; and
at the houses also of Admiral Poynder and Captain Idle, and most of my
subsequent commanders, I am a welcome guest.

I must not forget to mention, once more, my gallant companion in so many
adventures, honest Jack Stretcher. He volunteered into the next ship to
which I was appointed, to my very great satisfaction; and afterwards
taking out his warrant as a boatswain, he was with me for several years,
and a better boatswain there is not in the service. I have never
revisited my ancestral halls since I left them with Larry to go to sea;
and, to say the truth, the Encumbered Estates Court knows more about
them than I do. The ocean is my only heritage; my ship is my wife, and
I look on my crew as my children. I went to sea again as a midshipman;
then, after passing, I spent four years as a mate, and six as a
lieutenant; during which time I saw a good deal of hard service. At
length I got my promotion as a commander, and have still to look for my
post step.

Every career has its trials. A naval life has many; but we