punishment, but his absence, and security against future annoyance. It
was about nine o'clock on the next morning, when the punishment was to
take place, that Joey came down from his own room. He had been thinking
all night, and had decided that he had no other resource but to quit
Portsmouth, Emma, and his fair prospects for ever; he had resolved so to
do, to make this sacrifice; it was a bitter conclusion to arrive at, but
it had been come to. His haggard countenance when he made his
appearance at the breakfast-table, shocked Mrs Phillips and Emma; but
they made no remarks. The breakfast was passed over in silence, and
soon afterwards our hero found himself alone with Emma, who immediately
went to him, and, with tears in her eyes, said, "What is the matter with
you?--you look so ill, you alarm us all, and you make me quite
miserable."

"I am afraid, Miss Phillips--"

"Miss Phillips!" replied Emma.

"I beg your pardon; but, Emma, I am afraid that I must leave you."

"Leave us!"

"Yes, leave you and Portsmouth for ever, perhaps."

"Why, what has occurred?"

"I cannot, dare not tell. Will you so far oblige me to say nothing at
present; but you recollect that I was obliged to leave Gravesend on a
sudden."

"I recollect you did, but why I know not; only Mary said that it was not
your fault."

"I trust it was not so; but it was my misfortune. Emma, I am almost
distracted; I have not slept for weeks; but pray believe me, when I say
that I have done no wrong; indeed--"

"We are interrupted," said Emma, hurriedly; "there is somebody coming
upstairs."

She had hardly time to remove a few feet from our hero, when Captain
B---, of the _Niobe_, entered the room.

"Good morning, Miss Phillips, I hope you are well; I just looked in for
a moment before I go to the Admiral's office; we have had a catastrophe
on board the _Niobe_, which I must report immediately."

"Indeed," replied Emma; "nothing very serious, I hope."

"Why, no, only rid of a blackguard not worth hanging; one of the
marines, who was to have gone round the fleet this morning, when he went
to the forepart of the ship under the sentry's charge, leaped overboard,
and drowned himself."

"What was his name, Captain B---?" inquired Joey, seizing him by the
arm.

"His name--why, how can that interest you, O'Donahue? Well, if you wish
to know, it was Furness."

"I am very sorry for him," replied our hero; "I knew him once when he
was in better