ce.

Not till morning dawned did they return on board. Honest Higson was, of
course, the hero of the evening, and it was very evident, from the
attention the colonel paid him, that he was well pleased with his
intended son-in-law. At breakfast the next morning, Higson begged Jack
to wait till his wedding, which he told him had been fixed for the next
day.

"Rather sharp work," observed Jack.

"Why, the fact is," answered Higson, "Madame Paskiewich is anxious to
give the marriage eclat by having the advantage of your presence, and
that of my late shipmates, and, as the young lady did not object, of
course I was delighted, and I hope you will be able to stay."

Jack of course agreed, and the news, soon spreading round the ship,
afforded infinite satisfaction. It would take more space than can be
allowed to describe the magnificence of the fete. As many of the
officers as could be spared were invited on shore, while an abundance of
good viands were sent off to those who had to remain on board to take
care of the ship. The whole neighbourhood were assembled in their
gayest costumes. The upper classes were entertained either in the
house, or in a large marquee erected on the lawn, and tables were spread
in the neighbouring field for the peasantry and seamen, who, though they
could not exchange many ideas, became nevertheless on excellent terms.
Everyone, indeed, seemed to forget that a few months before their
respective nations had been engaged in a fierce and bloody struggle.

The marriage ceremony was performed in a neighbouring church. Though
Jack, who acted as Higson's best man, did not admire the style of
service, and the pictures of saints, and bowings and singing, he came to
the conclusion that his friend was as firmly spliced as he would have
been in a quiet English country church; and that, after all, as he
remarked to him, was the chief point to be considered.

The officers and crew of the _Tornado_ made all the preparations in
their power to do honour to their former first lieutenant's marriage;
the ship was decked with flags, and the boats' crews who had attended
the wedding requested the honour of escorting the young couple round the
ship. A barge having been got ready for their reception accordingly,
Higson, leading his bride down to the water, embarked, and was rowed
three times round the ship; while the crew manned yards, the band played
"Haste to the wedding," and the guns fired a salute.

Ja