onage of my sister. It was
finally agreed that Virginia should be educated for the office of
governess, and that when she was old enough Lady Hercules would take her
under her august protection; but her ladyship did do her some service.
Finding that Virginia was at a respectable school, she called there with
a party of ladies, and informed the schoolmistress that the little girl
was under her protection, and that she trusted that justice would be
done to her education. In a school where the Misses Tippet were
considered the aristocracy the appearance of so great a woman as Lady
Hercules was an event, and I do not know whether my little sister did
not after that take precedence in the school. At all events, she was
much more carefully instructed and looked after than she had been
before. Sir Hercules was also pleased to find, upon inquiry, that there
was every prospect of my entering the pilot service, without any trouble
on his part. Both Sir Hercules and his lady informed their friends of
what their intentions were to their young proteges, and were inundated
with praises and commendations for their kindness, the full extent of
which the reader will appreciate. But, as my mother pointed out as we
walked home, if we did not require their assistance at present, there
was no saying but that we eventually might; and if so, that Sir
Hercules and Lady Hawkingtrefylyan could not well refuse to perform
their promises. I must say that this was the first instance in my
recollection in which my parents appeared to draw amicably together; and
I believe that nothing except regard for their children could have
produced the effect.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

A most important Present is made to me; and, as it will eventually
appear, the Generosity of the Giver is rewarded.

Sir Hercules and Lady Hawkingtrefylyan quitted Greenwich the day after
the interview narrated in the preceding chapter; and by that day's post
Anderson received a letter, in reply to the one he had written, from his
friend Philip Bramble, channel and river pilot, who had, as he said in
his letter, put on shore at Deal, where he resided, but the day before,
after knocking about in the Channel for three weeks. Bramble stated his
willingness to receive and take charge of me, desiring that I would hold
myself in readiness to be picked up at a minute's warning, and he would
call for me the first time that he took a vessel up the river. A letter
communicati