and how proud and sensitive he is, if it should ever come to
his knowledge that you had suspected or asserted what you have, his
favour and protection would be lost to you for ever: at present he is
doing a kind and charitable action in bringing forward the son of a
faithful servant; but if he imagined for a moment that you were
considered related to him he would cast you off for ever, and all your
prospects in life would be ruined.

"Even allowing it possible that you were what you so madly stated
yourself in your letter to be, I am convinced he would do so. If such
a report came to his ears, he would immediately disavow you, and leave
you to find your own way in the world.

"You see, therefore, my dear boy, how injurious to you in every way
such a ridiculous surmise must prove, and I trust that, not only for
your own sake, but for your mother's character, you will, so far from
giving credence, indignantly disavow what must be a source of mischief
and annoyance to all parties.

"Captain Bridgeman desires me to say, that he is of my opinion, so is
your aunt Milly: as for your grandmother, of course, I dare not show
her your letter. Write to me, my dear boy, and tell me how this
unfortunate mistake happened, and believe me to be your affectionate
mother, ARABELLA KEENE."

I read this letter over ten times before I came to any conclusion; at
last I said to myself, there is not in any one part of it any positive
denial of the fact, and resolved some future day, when I had had some
conversation with Bob Cross, to show it to him, and ask his opinion.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN.

The next morning, at daylight, the blue Peter was hoisted at the
foremast, and the gun fired as a signal for sailing; all was bustle--
hoisting in, clearing boats of stock, and clearing the ship of women and
strangers.

At ten o'clock Captain Delmar made his appearance, the hands were piped
up anchor, and in half an hour we were standing out for St. Helen's.
Before night it blew very fresh, and we went rolling down the Channel
before an easterly wind. I went to my hammock very sick, and did not
recover for several days, during which nobody asked for me, or any
questions about me, except Bob Cross and Tommy Dott.

As soon as I was well enough, I made my appearance on deck, and was
ordered by the first lieutenant to do my duty under the signal
midshipman: this was day duty, and not very irksome; I learnt t