character deserves your love."

"Then, father, will this content you, dear? Unless I hear something of

Erle Twemlow, to show that he is living, and still holds to me, in the

course of another twelvemonth, Lord Dashville, or anybody else, may

try--may try to take his place with me. Only I must not be worried--I

mean, I must not hear another word about it, until the time has quite

expired."

"It is a very poor concession, Faith. Surely you might say half a year.

Consider, it is nearly three years now--"

"No, papa, I should despise myself if I were so unjust to one so

unlucky. And I only go so much from my own wishes because you are such a

dear and good father. Not a bit of it for Lord Dashville's sake."

"Well, my poor darling," the Admiral replied, for he saw that she was

upon the brink of tears, and might hate Lord Dashville if further urged,

"half a loaf is better than no bread. If Dashville is worthy of your

constant heart, he will stand this long trial of his constancy. This is

the tenth day of August, 1804. I hope that the Lord may be pleased to

spare me till the 10th of August, 1805. High time for them to come and

lay the cloth. I am as hungry as a hunter."

CHAPTER XLVI

CATAMARANS

Napoleon had shown no proper dread of the valiant British volunteers,

but kept his festival in August, and carried on his sea-side plans, as

if there were no such fellows. Not content with that, he even flouted

our blockading fleet by coming out to look at them. And if one of our

frigates had shot straight, she might have saved millions of lives and

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