ere there is most work to be done, and to go there."

"My dear child," said his mother, "but not to the coast of Africa."

Then Jack went into all the arguments in its favour, which he flattered
himself had made so favourable an impression at breakfast, but which he
found had all been forgotten, while the original very natural prejudice
against it had once more asserted a pre-eminence in the minds of his
family.

The next morning Jack was unusually fidgety till the post came in, and
there was a blank look on his countenance when the post-bag was opened
and it produced no letter for him. Soon after breakfast, however,
Admiral Triton's carriage drove up to the door, and out of it stepped
the admiral himself. He quickly stumped into the drawing-room, and
having made his salaams to the ladies, produced an official-looking
document from his pocket. Jack had followed him eagerly into the room.

"Here, my boy," said he, "is a letter from my friend Lascelles, your old
captain. He says--let me see what he says. Oh! here it is. `I cannot
find the address of Jack Rogers, so pray tell him to come down to
Portsmouth at once and join the _Ranger_. I have just been appointed to
her, to go out as commodore on the African station. Let his outfit be
got ready accordingly. I have no doubt that he will find some
opportunity of distinguishing himself; and as he has already served four
years, there is a fair chance of his getting his promotion when he
returns home.' The rest is private," observed the admiral, when he had
concluded this somewhat laconic epistle. "And now, Jack, I congratulate
you, my lad," he continued. "You have been quite long enough on shore
to rub up your shore manners, and that is as long as a midshipman ought
to remain at home. How soon shall you be ready?"

"In ten days or a fortnight I think that I could get his shirts and
flannel waistcoats made, and his socks marked, and his--"

"I beg your pardon, my dear madam, but by that time the _Ranger_ may be
halfway across the Bay of Biscay. Ten or fourteen hours you should say.
He must go and see his ship fitted out. He'll never be at home in her
unless he does. Well, well, then the day after to-morrow I intend to go
down with him. I enjoyed my last trip so much that I would not miss the
opportunity of seeing him on board his new ship. I know what you would
say, my dear madam, but a longer delay would be objectionable. Rogers
will agree with me. The