was longing to reward with a series of good dinners. And so he did his

utmost to ensure his father's visit.

But when the Admiral, going warily--because he was so stiff from

saddle-work--made his way down to the house of Widow Shanks, and winking

at the Royal Arms in the lower front window, where Stubbard kept Office

and convenience, knocked with the knocker at the private door, there

seemed to be a great deal of thought required before anybody came to

answer.

"Susie," said the visitor, who had an especial knack of remembering

Christian names, which endeared him to the bearers, "I am come to see

Mr. Carne, and I hope he is at home."

"No, that 'a bain't, sir," the little girl made answer, after looking at

the Admiral as if he was an elephant, and wiping her nose with unwonted

diligence; "he be gone away, sir; and please, sir, mother said so."

"Well, here's a penny for you, my dear, because you are the best little

needle-woman in the school, they tell me. Run and tell your mother to

come and see me.--Oh, Mrs. Shanks, I am very glad to see you, and so

blooming in spite of all your hard work. Ah, it is no easy thing in

these hard times to maintain a large family and keep the pot boiling.

And everything clean as a quarter-deck! My certy, you are a woman in a

thousand!"

"No, sir, no. It is all the Lord's doing. And you to the back of Him, as

I alway say. Not a penny can they make out as I owes justly, bad as I be

at the figures, Squire. Do 'e come in, and sit down, there's a dear. Ah,

I mind the time when you was like a dart, Squire!"

"Well, and now I am like a cannon-ball," said the Admiral, who

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