"Oh, Captain Scuddy," cried the head boy, grinning wisely, though he

might have made just the same blunder himself; "after that, do tell

us one of your sea-stories. It will strike five in about five minutes.

Something about Nelson, and killing ten great Frenchmen."

"Oh, do," cried the other little fellows, crowding round him. "It is

ever so much better than Virgil, Captain Scuddy!"

"I am not Captain Scuddy, as I tell you every day. I'm afraid I am a

great deal too good-natured with you. I shall have to send a dozen of

you up to be caned."

"No, you couldn't do that if you tried, Captain Scuddy. But what are you

thinking of, all this time? There are two pretty ladies in riding-habits

peeping at you from the bell porch. Why, you have got sweethearts,

Captain Scuddy! What a shame of you never to have told us!"

The youngest and fairest of all the boys there could scarcely have

blushed more deeply than their classical tutor did, as he stooped for

his hat, and shyly went between the old desks to the door in the porch.

All the boys looked after him with the deepest interest, and made

up their minds to see everything he did. This was not at all what he

desired, and the sense of it increased his hesitation and confusion. Of

the Admiral's lovely daughters he had heard while in the navy, and

now he was frightened to think that perhaps they were come here to

reconnoitre him. But luckily the Admiral was by this time to the fore,

and he marched into the school-room and saluted the head-master.

"Dr. Swinks," he said, "I am your very humble servant, Vice-Admiral of

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