I did, that as
an old friend of Harry's the captain might be trusted; indeed, without
his assistance it would have been difficult to get Harry sent home. I
lost no time in hastening up to the captain, and told him everything; he
was, as I expected he would be, highly delighted.

"He is a noble young fellow, and I all along thought he was of gentle
birth, though he might not have a right to his father's name," he
exclaimed. "We will get him home without delay, for of course nothing
can be done till he arrives."

He promised to be cautious, so that Mr Biddulph Stafford should not get
an inkling of what we were about.

"I will accompany him myself and give him all the support in my power,
as the whole matter is as clear to me as noonday, and, whether his uncle
acknowledges him or not, he must win his case."

I told him that Jerry hoped he would not say anything to the rest of his
family.

"I will be discreet," he answered, "depend upon that."

I had a strong suspicion that the ladies soon knew all about it, though
for my part I was sure they would act wisely.

Jerry received a letter from Mr Pengelley, saying that he wished to see
him, and to bring the information he had gained. Bidding us, therefore,
good-bye, he set off to return home, taking the portraits of the young
lady and Harry with him.

After this there seemed nothing to be done but to wait till Harry's
return; Captain Leslie had written to request that he might be allowed
to come home on urgent family affairs, and there was no doubt but that
he would obtain leave to do so, and he would of course guess the object.

I spent a good part of each day with spyglass in hand, looking out for
fresh arrivals at Spithead. When either Susan or I went up to the
captain's, we were sure to find Miss Fanny at the telescope, which stood
on a stand in the bay window of the drawing-room, turned in the same
direction. At last one day I saw two frigates coming in round Saint
Helen's; the leading one had her fore-topmast shot away and her sails
and rigging much cut up; the second, which had the English colours
flying over the French, was in a far worse condition, her mainmast and
mizzen-topmast were gone, and her hull was severely battered. She was
evidently a prize to the first.

"I can't help hoping that yonder frigate is the _Vestal_; it's hard to
say positively, but she is, as far as I can judge from this distance,
wonderfully like her," I exclaimed to Susan.