at the service was going to the devil through the Admiralty
neglecting the claims of their best officers and promoting a lot of
empty-headed coxcombs, who thought more of prancing about in a ballroom
in patent leather pumps than of keeping their watch regularly and
attending to their duties aboard ship!

Notwithstanding all adverse comments, however, Mr Jellaby's news of the
forthcoming ball proved true, for I heard it confirmed at the captain's
table the same evening.

Captain Farmer was in the habit of inviting his officers in turn to
dinner three times a week, the commander being a regular guest and one
of the lieutenants and mates, with a couple of midshipmen and naval
cadets being generally present on each occasion; while the doctor and
chaplain, as also the purser and marine officers, only came occasionally
to these gatherings, the conversation mostly dealing with professional
matters in which those belonging to the executive were mainly interested
and the other branches not much concerned.

It was for this reason, I suppose, the captain did not invite these
latter officers more often than he could help!

During the progress of the courses this evening, the talk, as usual, was
on service topics; but when the cloth had been removed and the toast of
"the Queen" honoured in the customary way, each of us youngsters being
then allowed our one glass of wine to drink the health of Her Majesty,
Captain Farmer introduced the subject of the garrison ball.

"I have here invitation cards for all of you, even including you, Master
Vernon," he said, handing them round and passing one over to me which
was inscribed with my name in full; the "sojer officers," as Tommy
called them, having managed through the purser or master-at-arms, or by
some other means, to get hold of all our names correctly, both great and
small. "So, gentlemen, we must try and make as brave a show as we can
in return for the compliment, the affair really being given in our
honour. We need only keep an anchor watch, so nearly all of you may be
spared, I think, for the night. You'll have to settle it with the
commander as to who shall remain on board."

This was soon settled, Mr Bitpin offering at once to do double duty for
the nonce, as he did not care about dancing and besides wished leave for
the two following days to go up country on a visit to a Caffre kraal;
while Plumper, the fat mate, who had the toothache very badly, also
volunteered to remai