midshipman, if we like to send the youngster with him. There is no
time to lose, as he expects to be ready in a week or ten days; so we
must decide at once."

The question was put indirectly to me, "Should I like to go to sea?"
Now, I had never even seen the sea, and had never realised what a
man-of-war was like. The largest floating thing to which I was
accustomed was the miller's punt, in which my brothers and I used
occasionally to paddle about on the mill-pond; in which mill-pond, by
the bye, we had all learned to swim. I had seen pictures of ships,
though as to the size of one, and the number of men she might carry, I
was profoundly ignorant. I was, therefore, not very well qualified to
come to a decision. Suddenly I recollected a visit paid to us by Tom
Welby, an old schoolfellow, after his first trip to sea, and what a
jolly life I thought he must lead as he described his adventures, and
how fine a fellow he looked as he strutted about with his dirk at his
side, the white patch on his collar, and the cockade in his hat. I
decided at once. "If you wish it, father, I'm ready to go," said I.

My father looked at me affectionately. There was, I am certain, a
conflict going on in his mind whether or not he should part with me; but
prudence conquered love.

"Of course, you must all have professions, boys, and the navy is a very
fine one," he observed. "What do you say, Mary?"

My mother was too sensible a woman to make any objections to so
promising an offer if I did not; and therefore, before we rose from the
breakfast table, it was settled that I was to be a midshipman, and we
were all soon laughing away as heartily as ever. The news that Master
Marmaduke was going away to sea quickly reached the servants' hall, and
from thence spread over the village.

Not a moment was lost by our mother in commencing the preparations for
my outfit. Stores of calico were produced, and she and Bertha had cut
out a set of shirts and distributed them to be made before noon. While
they were thus employed, I went down to have a talk with my father, and
to have my ignorance on nautical affairs somewhat enlightened, though
he, I found, knew very little more about them than I did. While I was
in the study the footman came to say that Widow Bluff wished to see him.
"Let her come in," was his reply. "Well, dame, what is it you want
this morning?" he asked, in his cheery encouraging tone as she appeared.

"Why, sir, I hears