ncle started this subject, for it was time we
had an explanation. Do you know that with his interest at the Admiralty
and mine you could be entered on board a first-rate man-of-war?"

"Yes, and well looked after, sir," cried the admiral; "so that when you
had properly gone through your term, and been master's mate long enough,
your promotion would have been certain."

"Yes, uncle, father has often said so," replied Sydney, reaching for
another walnut, and taking up the crackers.

"Put that walnut down, sir," cried his father.

Sydney obeyed, and to keep his hands under control thrust them in his
pockets and leaned back in his chair.

"Well, sir," said his uncle, "does not that make you feel proud?"

"No, uncle."

"What! Don't you know that you would have a uniform and wear a sword--I
mean a dirk?"

"Yes, uncle."

"Well, sir? Why, at your time of life I was mad to have my uniform."

"What for?" said the boy.

"What for, sir? What for? Why, to wear, of course."

"I don't want to wear a uniform. You couldn't climb trees, nor go
fishing, nor shrimping, nor riding in a uniform."

"No, sir," continued the admiral, after winking and frowning at his
brother to leave the boy to him, "of course not. You would be an
officer and a gentleman then, and wear a cocked hat."

"Ha! ha! ha!"

The boy burst into a hearty fit of laughter, and his father frowned.

"Sydney--" he began.

"No, no, Harry, leave him to me," said the admiral; "I'll talk to him.
Now, sir," he continued, turning to the boy sternly, "pray what did I
say to make you start grinning like a confounded young monkey? I--I--I
am not accustomed to be laughed at by impertinent boys."

"I was not laughing at you, uncle," said the boy, dragging one hand from
his pocket and making a lunge at an apple.

"Leave that fruit alone, sir," said the admiral, "and don't tell me a
confounded lie, sir. You did laugh at me."

"I did not," said the boy; "and that's not a lie."

"What!" roared the admiral, turning purple. "How dare you, sir! To the
mast-head at once, and stop there till--"

A hearty burst of laughter from his brother and nephew quelled the old
man's anger.

"Ah, you may laugh at that," he said. "Force of habit. But you've got
to apologise, you young monkey, for what you said."

"I can't apologise for what I did not do," said the boy, stubbornly.

"What, sir?"

"Steady, steady, sir," said the captain. "He's a confoundedly impudent