low, but her breath failed her; the hitherto
favouring gale blew her back, and with anathemas on the head of the
culprit, she gave up the pursuit, and returned panting to her stall.

"There's the price of your apples, Molly," said the admiral, as he
passed, handing her a sixpence. "You have gained it for the fun you
have afforded me."

"That 'ere little chap will come to the gallows some day, if he goes on
like that," was the comment made by Toby.

"That's true, boy," observed Edkins. "People are apt to forget, if they
are amused, whether a thing is right or wrong; white's white, and
black's black, whatever you choose to call them."

I felt very sure, from what I saw of Edkins, that he would take good
care of Toby. He left me at the George. The captain came at last. He
was a broad-shouldered, thick-set man, not very tall, but with fair hair
and a most pleasant expression of countenance. Frank, honest, and
kind-hearted I was certain he was. He reminded me of my father, except
that the squire had a fresh and he had a thoroughly saltwater look about
him. We were joined at dinner by several officers, and among others by
my fellow-passenger, who proved, as Edkins suspected, to be Mr Bryan,
the second lieutenant of the Doris. He amused the company very much by
an account of Mr Johnson's conversation with me.

"He is a very extraordinary fellow, that," said the captain. "He is a
first-rate seaman, and thoroughly trustworthy in all professional
matters; but I never met his equal for drawing the long bow. I knew him
when I was a lieutenant, and could listen to his yarns."

The party laughed heartily at my account of the old applewoman and the
little boy, and I felt wonderfully at my ease among so many big-wigs,
and began to fancy myself a personage of no small importance. After
dinner, however, Mr Bryan called me aside. "I must give you a piece of
advice, youngster. I overheard your contest of wit with the boatswain,
and I remarked the way you spoke to your superior officers at dinner.
You are now in plain clothes, and the Captain's guest, but do not
presume on their present freedom. You will find the drawing-room and
the quarter-deck very different places. Sharpness and wit are very well
at times, but modesty is never out of place." I thanked Mr Bryan, and
promised to remember his advice.

The next day, with the assistance of the tailor, I got into my uniform,
and, after I had had a little time to admire