How sad is the analysis of human nature--what
contradictions, what extremes! how many really brave men have I fallen
in with, stooping to every meanness for patronage, court favour, or
gain; slandering those whose reputation they feared, and even descending
to falsehood to obtain their ends! How many men with splendid talents,
but with little souls!

Up to the present I had run a career of prosperous success; I had risen
to a high position without interfering, or being interfered with by
others; but now I had become of sufficient consequence to be envied; now
I had soon to experience, that as you continue to advance in the world,
so do you continue to increase the number of your enemies, to be exposed
to the shafts of slander, to be foiled by treachery, cunning, and
malevolence. But I must not anticipate.

I remained in London till my leave was expired, and then went down to
Portsmouth to pay off the brig, which had been ordered into dock, to be
refitted for his Majesty's service.

CHAPTER THIRTY ONE.

The Circe, thirty-two, to which I had been appointed, was a small but
very beautiful frigate and as far as I could judge by her build as she
lay on the stocks, had every requisite for sailing well.

When I took my leave of Lord de Versely, he told me that he should come
down on the first of the following month (September) to Madeline Hall,
where his aunt, Miss de Versely, was still flourishing at a green old
age. "Here is a letter of introduction to her, Keene," said he, "as she
has not seen you since you were a few months old, and therefore it is
not very likely that she would recognise you. Take my advice, and make
yourself as agreeable to the old lady as you can; you will find Madeline
Hall a very pleasant place, when you are tired of the dockyard and the
smell of pitch and tar."

I thanked his lordship, and we parted with much more cordiality shown by
him than I had experienced.

I hardly need say, that the first person who came to congratulate me on
my arrival at Portsmouth was my old friend an adviser Bob Cross. "Well,
Captain Keene," said Bob, as I shook him warmly by the hand, "I'm
delighted at your success, and I know you will not be sorry to hear that
I am getting on as well as I could wish in my small way; Jane and I are
to be married in a few days, and I hope you will honour me by being
present at the wedding."

"That I will, Bob, with pleasure," replied I; "let me hear all that has
taken pl