The herald., 1898-06-19

one morning, some days after this,
when 1 went to see Giles at his lodg-
ings, 1 found the. bailiffs in possession.
Giles, however, was as merry as a grig
because that very morning he had got
an appointment to the "Belvidera" fri
gate.
1t was not much after having served
in the Ajax" but it meant leaving
that uncertain and trying element, dry
land, for another element on which
Giles was much more at home; to wit,
the blue sea. So he sent out for a pot
of porter and he and I, together with
the bailiffs, drank to the "Belvidera;"
and / swore, then and there, that go
with him I would. So when 1 returned
to Berkeley square that day. 1 begged
Sir Peter to get me berth in the BEL
videra." He was pleased with my spir-
it, and the very next day he went to
the Admiralty for me. The compile
ment was full, but, luckily for me, one
of the juniors got billet more to his
liking, and Sir Peter, being on the spot,
got me the vacancy, and was ordered
to report at once at Plymouth.
1t took me but a day or two to get
my outfit and make ready to start.
Lady Hawkshaw showed me great
kindness then, and actually allowed me
to have considerable sum of my own
money. Lady Arabella treated me with
her usual Indifference, and on the day
1 was to go, bade me careless adieu.
When the post -chaise was at the door
and 1 went to the Chinese drawing
room to tell Lady Hawkshaw and Sir
Peter good by, Daphne was there with
| !, nd I,a oh l.o
weeping. She said not a word when
took her hand, but handing me little
parcel, ran out of the room. 1 after
ward found it to be little housewife
made by her own hands.
I went down to the chaise, puzzled
at her conduct, but looking up for the
asst time at the windows, 1 saw her peer
ing from behind a curtain. 1 raised
the parcel to my lips, and as she saw
it, smile broke over her face; and at
my last glimpse of her she was like an
April day,-all smiles and tears
Giles Vernon was waiting for me at
the corner of the street. We were to
make the journey to Plymouth to-
gether.
"Well," he cried, when we found our
selves rolling along to meet the coach,
Il have had my cake and eaten it."
"How I envy you!" said bitterly.
II have not had my cake. Every
shilling of my prize-money is in bank,
except about two hundred pounds"
| Poor chap!" answered Giles, feel
ingly. "How much more of life have
I seen in London than you! have seen
everything, including that Queen of
Hearts, Lady Arabella Stormont. She
has treated me cruelty, the jade; but
will bring her to my hand at last,
| that 1 swear to you"
| longed that he might know Of that
episode with Overton in Sir Peter
Hawkshaw's cubbyhole at five o'clock
in the morning.
We had a pleasant journey to Ply
mouth, and were troubled with few re-
grets at leaving London. We expected,
in the foolishness of youth, to capture
many more such prizes as the "Indomp-
table" and "Xantippe." TIE "Belvi-
dera" was near ready, and in a few
weeks we sailed on our second cruise.
I will not give the particulars of that
cruise. 1t was such one as all the
officers of His Majestys service were
engaged in, during those eventful
years. We were constantly at sea; we
kept tireless lookout for our enc
mics, and hunted and pursued them
into their own harbors. We had good
and i'll fortune with the ship, but her
colors were never lowered. And it was
five years before we set foot in London
town again.
| Only a year Of that time was Giles
Vernon with me. He then got promo
ton which took him out of the ship.
I had the extreme good fortune to be
with Nelson at the Nile. On that great
day, as sailing-master of the "Belvi-
dera," I took the frigate around the
head of Admiral Villeneuve's line,-she
was the leading ship,-and placed her
where she was enabled to fire the first
raking broadside of the battle. I got
a wound in the forehead which left a
scar that remains to this day; but I
also received the personal thanks of
my Lord Nelson, which shall ever es-
| TEEN as the greatest honor of my life.
1 had heard nothing of Giles for nearly
a year, when, among Admiral Vile
neuve's officers, I found one, a young
| lieutenant like myself, who told me that
| Giles had been captured, while on a
boat expedition, and was then in pris-
on at Dunkerque.
| I wrote him a dozen letters at least,
by officers who were paroled; and when
| the ship was paid off, the following
spring, lost no time in getting to Lon
don, and using what little power I had
in trying to get him exchanged. Sir
Peter was in great favor at the Ad-
miralty. AS soon as reached London,
went Immediately and called in Ber-
kelley square. My Lady Hawkshaw was
at home, and received me in great
state, black feathers and all; and with
her sat Daphne Carmichael.
I believe Lady Hawkshaw was really
glad to see me; but Daphne, after
speaking to me, remained with her eyes
fixed on her embroidery 1 noted, how
ever, that she was very charming girl,
and her eyes, under her long, dark
lashes, were full of fire and sweetness.
But she had not, and never could have,
the glorious beauty of Lady Arabella
Stormont Lady Hawkshaw demanded
Of me particular account Of my whole
cruise. and everything that happened
at the battle of the Nile. This L gave.
to the best of my ability. She then in
vited, or, rather, commanded, me to
take up my quarters in Berkeley
square,. and told me that had three
thousand and ten pounds, nineteen
shillings, and seven-pence to my credit
in bank.
After this, she was called upon to