nd forty pounds of flour."

"Yes, sir."

"That's all. Oh, no--don't forget to send some peas on shore for the
pig."

"No, sir," and the steward departed to execute his variety of
commissions.

The present first-lieutenant of the _Aspasia_, who, upon the promotion
of the former, had been selected by Captain M--- previous to his
quitting the ship, was an excellent officer and a pleasant,
light-hearted messmate, very superior in talent and information to the
many.

The conduct of Captain Capperbar was a source of annoyance to him, as he
frequently could not command the services of the different artificers
when they were required for the ship. He had, however, been long enough
in the service to be aware that it was better to make the best of it
than to create enemies by impeaching the conduct of his superior
officer. As the command of Captain Capperbar was but temporary, he
allowed him to proceed without expostulation, contenting himself with
turning his conduct into a source of conversation and amusement.

"Well, Prose, how do you like the new skipper?" inquired Seymour, soon
after his arrival on board.

"Why--I do declare, I can hardly tell. He's a very good-tempered man,
but he don't exactly treat us midshipmen as if we were officers or
gentlemen; and as for his wife, she is really too bad. I am sent every
day on shore to the cottage, because I belong to the captain's gig.
They never ask me to sit down, but set me to work somehow or another.
The other day he had a boat's crew on shore digging up a piece of ground
for planting potatoes, and he first showed me how to cut the _eyes_, and
then gave me a knife, and ordered me to _finish the whole bag_ which lay
in the field, and to see that the men worked properly at the same time.
I never cut potatoes into little bits before, except at table after they
were boiled."

"Well, that was too bad; but however, you'll know how to plant potatoes
in future--there's nothing like knowledge."

"And then he sends the nurse and children for an airing, as he calls it,
on the water, and I am obliged to take them. I don't like pulling
maid-servants about."

"That's quite a matter of taste, Prose; some midshipmen do."

"What do you think Mrs Capperbar asked me to do the other day?"

"I'm sure I can't guess."

"Why, to shell peas."

"Well, did you oblige her?"

"Why, yes, I did; but I did not like it,--and the other day the captain
sent me out to walk with the nurse