of her coming,
called to pay a farewell visit at the house. He was ushered into the
drawing-room, where a lady was seated with a book in her hand, though
her eyes were oftener cast over the blue ocean than at its pages.

The servant announced his name; the lady rose from her seat, and gazed
at him with a look in which surprise was mingled with pleasure, a rich
blush suffusing her countenance. "Mr Adair!" she exclaimed, holding
out her hand, which Terence took, and seemed very unwilling to
relinquish. Nor did she withdraw it.

"I thought you were at Ballymacree," she said. "I was very sorry that
papa thought it right not to accept your proposal to pay us a visit at
Halliburton while Jack was absent, but, believe me, he did not intend to
be unkind."

"I felt that, though it made me very unhappy," answered Terence; "but
did you wish me to come?"

"Yes," said Lucy, "I should have been very glad to see you; I should not
be speaking the truth if I did not say so."

"Then, if I get my promotion and come back with lots of prize-money, may
I hope--"

"Pray don't speak about that," answered Lucy, growing agitated; "I can
make no promise without papa's sanction, and I have already said enough
to show that I am not indifferent to you."

Terence was an Irishman, and Irishmen are not wont to be bashful, but at
that moment Alick and Stella entered the room, not failing to remark the
confusion their appearance created. Terence, of course, explained that
he had called, not expecting to see Miss Rogers, but had come to pay his
respects to Mrs Murray. She tried to send her husband out of the room,
intending to follow, but he would not take the hint; and Terence, who
had but a short time to spare, was compelled at length to pay his adieux
without eliciting the promise he wished from Lucy. She looked very
sorry when he had gone, but probably was the better able, from sympathy,
to afford consolation to poor Stella, when the moment for her parting
with her husband arrived. That moment came the very next day. It need
not be dwelt on. Stella's lot was that which numberless wives of naval
officers have to endure; but, though widely shared, her grief was not
the less poignant as she watched with tearful eyes through the admiral's
spy-glass the corvette under all sail standing down the Solent.

CHAPTER TWO.

CROSSING THE EQUATOR--BILLY BLUEBLAZES LOOKS OUT FOR THE LINE, BUT DOES
NOT SEE IT--HE AND GERALD MASTHEADED--TRIST