me out;
that, all things considered, he thought it advisable that she should
return at once to Chatham, and leave the boy with him as she could not
know what was requisite for me, and would therefore be of no use.

At the idea of parting with me, my mother cried bitterly. Captain
Delmar did then rise off his chair, and taking my mother by the hand
speak to her a few words of consolation. My mother removed her
handkerchief from her eyes and sighed deeply, saying to Captain Delmar,
with an appealing look, "Oh! Captain Delmar, remember that for you I
have indeed made great sacrifices; do not forget them, when you look at
that boy, who is very dear to me."

"I will do him justice," replied the captain, somewhat affected, "but I
must insist upon inviolable secrecy on your part; you must promise me
that under any circumstances--"

"I have obeyed you for thirteen years," replied my mother; "I am not
likely to forget my promise now; it is hard to part with him, but I
leave him in the hands of--"

"You forget the boy is there," interrupted Captain Delmar; "take him
away now; to-morrow morning I will send my coxswain for him, and you
must go back to Chatham."

"God bless you, sir," replied my mother, weeping, as Captain Delmar
shook her hand, and then we left the room. As we were walking back to
our lodging, I inquired of my mother--"What's the secret between you and
Captain Delmar, mother?"

"The secret, child! Oh, something which took place at the time I was
living with his aunt, and which he does not wish to have known; so ask
me no more questions about it."

After our return, my mother gave me a great deal of advice. She told me
that, as I had lost my father Ben, I must now look upon Captain Delmar
as a father to me; that Ben had been a faithful servant to the captain,
and that she had been the same to Mrs Delmar, his aunt; and that was
the reason why Captain Delmar was interested about me, and had promised
to do so much for me; begging me to treat him with great respect and
never venture to play him any tricks, or otherwise he would be highly
offended, and send me home again; and then I should never rise to be an
officer in his Majesty's service.

I cannot say the advice received the attention it deserved, for I felt
more inclined to play tricks to my honourable captain than any person I
ever met with; however, I appeared to consent, and, in return begged my
mother to take care of my dog Bob, which she promis