why you're so
anxious to save your legs."

"But, Mrs St. Felix, if it had not been for that good spy-glass you
gave me, I never should have discovered the privateer, and we should not
have been prepared for her."

"Well, that's fortunate; it didn't prove a glass too much, anyhow, or
you'd have seen double. I suppose, then, all these pretty things are my
share of the prize-money."

"No, they are no value, except to prove to you that Poor Jack has not
forgotten your kindness, and never will."

"That I believe; and believing that, I suppose you have not forgotten
old Nanny."

"No; but I have not seen her yet. I intend to go to-morrow; but I have
something for the doctor. He is not at home, will you give it to him?"

"Certainly: you know I am as good as a mother to him."

"I think the doctor would rather you'd be a wife to him."

"That's a foolish idea that's in many people's heads, Tom, which I'll
thank you to contradict. I never intend to change my name."

"Don't make too sure," replied I; and I added at a venture (why, I know
not, but I had formed the idea in my mind that St. Felix was not her
proper name), "you may change it yet for your real name."

"Tom, Tom," cried the widow, "what do you mean?"

"Nothing," replied I, "I was only joking."

"Well then, don't talk such nonsense, or I shall send you out of the
shop."

I had, however, it appeared, struck upon a chord which jarred, and all
the spirits of Mrs St. Felix vanished at once. So Virginia and I
wished her a good evening, and returned home.

CHAPTER TWENTY EIGHT.

SOME LITTLE DIFFERENCE IN THE PROCEEDS OF THIS CHAPTER, AND MY FORMER
"COPPER FOR POOR JACK, YOUR HONOUR."

On our arrival at my mother's, I found a letter from Bramble, stating
that he would be at Greenwich in two days, and, further, informing me
that the honourable company had been pleased, in consequence of the
report made of our good behaviour, to award to him the sum of two
hundred pounds, and to me the sum of one hundred pounds, as a
remuneration for our assistance in the capture of the privateer.

This was news indeed. One hundred pounds! I never thought that I
should possess such a sum in my life. One hundred pounds! what should I
do with it? My mother was astonished, and then fell into a very grave
mood. Virginia was pleased, but appeared to care less about it than I
thought she would have done. My father came in as usual with Ben the
Whaler, and I read the