bold enough and
covered a large sheet of paper.

"Dear Sally," it began, "I have been to the Admiralty and seen the First
Lord, having reached this big city, and lost my way half-a-dozen times
in it, four days after I left you. We had calms and light winds the
whole distance to Portsmouth. His lordship received me with a profound
bow, as if I had been an admiral, listened attentively to all I had to
say, and I made up my mind that he was the politest gentleman I had ever
met, and fully intended to grant my request. When I had finished, he
glanced his eye down a long list, which he held up so that I could see
it, remarking that there were a number of promising lads who desired to
enter the service, but that he much feared he should be compelled to
disappoint them. My claims were great, and he was surprised that his
predecessors had not acknowledged them by promoting me; that he had no
doubt my brother-in-law would have been an ornament to the service had
he lived; that I ought to have sent his son's name in long ago, and that
he would take the matter into consideration. He desired me to leave my
address, advising me not to remain in town, as it might be some time
before I was likely to hear from him; he then politely bowed me out of
the room. Whether or not anything will come of it is more than I can
divine. In my humble opinion my visit to London will prove bootless; it
can't be helped, Sally, so cheer up, and don't let Ned get out of
spirits. I am going to call on two or three shipowners, of whom
Jenkins, who knows more of London than I do, has told me, for if Ned
cannot get into the navy, he must make up his mind to enter the merchant
service. I'll write more when I have more to communicate, so, with love
to the young ones, I remain, your affectionate brother, John Pack."

Aunt Sally had to confess to herself that the letter was not
encouraging, still she did her best to follow her brother's advice.
"Perhaps the First Lord doesn't like to make promises, but he must be a
good man, or he would not hold the position he does, and I dare say
he'll do his best. We may have a letter even before your uncle comes
back, saying that you are appointed to a ship. It can't be so difficult
a thing to make a midshipman. Had your uncle, however, asked to be
promoted, I should not have been surprised had he been refused. It is
very kind of the First Lord to receive him so well and to listen to all
he had to say; we shoul