“Frank,” said Emily, “you must acknowledge that you are vain enough to be an admiral at least.”

“The admirals are much obliged to you for the compliment,” said I.  “I trust I should not disgrace the flag, come when it will; but to tell you the truth, my dear Emily, I cannot, say I look forward to that elevation, with any degree of satisfaction.  Three stars on each shoulder, and three rows of gold lace round the cuff, are no compensation, in my eyes, for grey hairs, thin legs, a broken back, a church-yard cough, and to be laughed at or pitied by all the pretty girls in the country into the bargain.”

“I am sorry for you, my hero,” said the young lady; “but you must submit.”

“Well then, if I must, I must,” said I; “but give me a kiss in the meantime.”

I asked for one, and took a hundred, and should have taken a hundred more, but the confounded butler came in, and brought me a letter on service, which was neither more nor less than an order to join my ship forthwith; sic transit, &c.

Pocketing my disappointment with as much sang froid as I could muster, I continued to beguile the time and to solace myself for my past sufferings, by as much enjoyment as could be compressed into the small space of leisure time allotted to me.  Fortunately, the first lieutenant of the frigate was what we used to call “a hard officer;” he never went on shore, because he had few friends and less money.  He drew for his pay on the day it became due, and it lasted till the next day of payment; and as I found he doated on a Spanish cigar, and a correct glass of cognac grog—­for he never drank to excess—­I presented him with a box of the former, and a dozen of the latter, to enable him to bear my nightly absence with Christian composure.

As soon as the day’s work was ended, the good-natured lieutenant used to say, “Come, Mr Mildmay, I know what it is to be in love; I was once in love myself, though it is a good many years ago, and I am sure I shall get into the good graces of your Polly (for so he called Emily) if I send you to her arms.  There is the jolly for you:  send the boat off as soon as you have landed, and be with us at nine to-morrow morning, to meet the midshipman and the working party in the dock-yard.”

All this was perfectly agreeable to me.  I generally got to Mr Somerville’s temporary residence on Blackheath by the time the dressing-bell rang, and never failed to meet a pleasant party at dinner.  My father and dear Clara were guests in the house as well as myself.  By Mr Somerville’s kind permission, I introduced Talbot, who, being a perfect gentleman in his manners, a man of sound sense, good education, and high aristocratic connections, I was proud to call my friend.  I presented him particularly to my sister, and took an opportunity of whispering in Emily’s ear, where I knew it would not long remain, that he possessed the indispensable qualification of two epaulettes.  “Therefore,” said I, “pray do not trust yourself too near him, for fear you should be taken by surprise, like the True-blooded Yankee.”