two men behind his chair."

"And the beautiful young ladies looking at him every time he takes a

mouthful."

"But he dare not go courting after thirteen jumps. And he has vowed that

he will have another. Come, Captain Scuddy, no time to lose."

But Scudamore set off to face his doom, with his old hat hanging on the

back of his head--as it generally did--and his ruddy face and mild blue

eyes full of humorous diffidence and perplexity.

"If you please, sir, his honour the Hadmiral have sent me to fetch 'e

and your things; and hoss be baiting along of the Blue Dragon."

"I am sorry to say that I forgot all about it, or, at least, I thought

that he would. How long before we ought to start?"

"My name is Gregory, sir--Coachman Gregory--accustomed always to a pair,

but doesn't mind a single hoss, to oblige the Hadmiral, once in a way.

About half an hour, sir, will suit me, unless they comes down to the

skittle-alley, as ought to be always on a Saturday afternoon; but not a

soul there when I looked in."

Any man in Scudamore's position, except himself, would have grieved and

groaned. For the evening dress of that time, though less gorgeous than

of the age before, was still an expensive and elaborate affair; and the

young man, in this ebb of fortune, was poorly stocked with raiment. But

he passed this trouble with his usual calmness and disregard of trifles.

"If I wear the best I have got," he thought, "I cannot be charged with

disrespect. The Admiral knows what a sailor is; and, after all, who will

look at me?" Accordingly he went just as he was, for he never wore an

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