you an acting order to command the _Romp_ till
someone is appointed from home. I expect you to show your zeal in the
service, and I have no doubt that you will be able to give a
satisfactory account of your proceedings."

Adair, highly pleased, thanked the commodore, and hastened back with the
letter-bag to the corvette. He longed to see its contents, for he felt
sure that he should hear from Mrs Murray, if not from Lucy herself.
The contents of the bag were quickly distributed, and every officer, and
not a few of the men, were soon deeply immersed in perusing their
various epistles. It was a wonder the corvette did not run away with
them; fortunately Jos Green was the officer of the watch, and, shoving
his letters into his pocket, he issued the order to brace round the
foreyard, and the corvette once more stood close-hauled to the westward,
while the commodore ran on for the island of Pemba.

Murray, of course, had a letter from his wife, containing a smaller
missive, which he held in his hand while he read the contents of the
former. Adair had just received a long official-looking epistle, at
which his eyes sparkled with more than usual animation. "Good luck has
come at last!" he exclaimed; "I've got my promotion, thanks to Admiral
Triton and Lord Derrynane."

"I congratulate you heartily," said Murray; "and here's a little billet
which I hope may add to your satisfaction. I suppose Stella thinks it
all right, or she wouldn't have undertaken to forward it." Adair took
the note, and, eagerly opening it, ran his eyes rapidly over the
delicately-formed characters.

"Hurrah, my boy, I'm the happiest fellow alive!" he said, with
difficulty restraining an inclination to throw his cap into the air and
give an Irish caper. "That capital fellow, Jack, has been taking my
part; and Lucy says that Sir John and Lady Rogers are inclined to
relent, and she's certain would not withhold their consent provided I
obtain what I've just got; and so I may conclude that it will all be
settled, and that I may make my appearance at Halliburton as soon as I
return to England."

"I'm truly glad to hear it," said Murray; "from what my wife says, I
thought you would be satisfied with her friend's letter. The only
drawback, as far as I am concerned, is that I shall lose you as my first
lieutenant. However, I mustn't complain, and I might have a much worse
one than Mildmay, who will, I am sure, turn to with a will when he finds
him