nd again shifted, when we ran into Portsmouth harbour.

I have already given a description of the scenes which occurred when I
was last paid off, so I need not repeat it. Lord Robert made us a
speech, promising to attend to the interests of all the officers who had
served with him, and especially to bear in mind the strong claims of his
first lieutenant to promotion. He took down all our addresses, saying
we should hear from him before long.

"I'll buy a golden frame to put his letter in, if I receive one,"
growled old Rough-and-Ready.

"I doubt whether he'll put pen to paper for my sake," said Nettleship.

Most of the rest of us made similar remarks. We were not wrong in our
conjectures, and, as far as I could learn, his lordship forgot all about
us and his promises from the moment he started for London; and we were
cast adrift to shift for ourselves.

Nettleship intended to go down to Plymouth, and wanted Tom Pim and me to
accompany him; but Tom's family were expecting him at home, and I hoped
to get round direct from Portsmouth to Cork by sea.

The _Osprey_, which had returned to Portsmouth, was paid off at the time
we were, and as there was no vessel sailing for Cork, I accepted an
invitation from Sinnet to go over to Cowes, where his family were
staying. We ran across in a wherry he had engaged.

As we were entering the harbour, we saw a fine-looking lugger at anchor,
and while passing I inquired where she was bound to.

"Over to France, to the port of Grisnez or thereabouts," answered a man
who was walking the forecastle with his hands in his pockets.

"When do you sail?" I asked.

"May be to-morrow, may be next day," was the answer.

"I say, Sinnet, I've a great mind, if the lugger remains here long
enough, to take a passage in her, and go and pay my promised visit to La
Touche. I wish you could come too; I am sure he will be glad to see
you."

"I wish I could, for I'm certain we should have good fun; but you see I
have not been with my family for a long time, and they would look upon
me as destitute of natural feeling if I went away so soon. If you,
however, have a wish to go, don't stand on ceremony. Should the lugger,
however, remain long enough, I'll take advantage of your proposal," he
said, as I accompanied him up to his house.

I was introduced to his father and mother and sisters, who were all such
nice people that I was half inclined to give up my idea. Sinnet,
however, mentioned