young scamp, but he could not tell a lie."

"But he laughed in my face, Harry?"

"I was laughing at myself, uncle."

"At yourself, sir?"

"Yes, I was thinking what a popinjay I should look in a cocked hat."

"Well, really," said the admiral, "I am beginning to be glad, Harry,
that I never married and had a son. I used to be envious about this
boy, and wanted a share in him. But a boy who can laugh at a part of
his Majesty's uniform--well! Why, you young whipper-snapper, did I ever
look a--a--a popinjay in my cocked hat?"

"Well, you used to look very rum, uncle."

"Harry, my dear boy," said the admiral, fiercely; "we are old men, and
this young dog represents us. May I take him into the library, and give
him a good caning?"

"No, Tom, certainly not."

"No, of course not, Harry; I beg your pardon. Now, sir--pass that
port--and--a--don't fill your own glass. Port like that, sir, is only
fit for gentlemen. And you--you want to be a doctor, eh?"

"Yes, uncle," said the boy, pushing the decanter along the table.

"And pray what for, sir?"

"To do good to people."

"What? A doctor do good! Rubbish! Never did me a bit of good."

"Oh, but they do, uncle."

"Never, sir. That Liss has pretty well poisoned me over and over
again."

"Oh, uncle, what a--"

"You say that if you dare, sir," cried the old admiral, bringing his
hand down bang upon the table, and making the glasses dance. "It's the
truth. Always made my gout worse. Colchicum--colchicum--colchicum--and
the pain awful. Doctors are an absurd new invention, and of no use
whatever."

"Why, you always have a doctor on board ship."

"Surgeon, you young dog, surgeon. Doctor! Bah! Hang all doctors! A
surgeon is of some use in action, cutting, and splicing, and fishing a
poor fellow's limbs; but a doctor--"

At that moment a rubicund butler opened the dining-room door, and stood
back for some one to enter.

"Doctor Liss, sir," he said quietly; and a quick, eager-looking little
man in snuff-coloured coat and long, salt-box-pocketed waistcoat entered
the room, handing his cocked hat and stick to the butler, and nodding
pleasantly from one to the other.

"Who was that shouting for the doctor?" he said cheerily, as he rubbed
his hands; then took out a gold snuff-box, tapped it, opened it, and
handed it to the captain.

"You, wasn't it, Sir Thomas? Touch of your old enemy?"

"No," grunted the admiral, "I'm sound as a roach. Bah!"