ng described this first great event in my life,
I shall for the present conclude.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN.

AFTER STAYING A YEAR WITH HIM, MR. TREVANNION PROPOSES TO TAKE ME INTO
PARTNERSHIP, BUT I DECLINE THE OFFER FROM CONSCIENTIOUS MOTIVES--MISS
TREVANNION TREATS ME WITH UNMERITED COLDNESS--THIS AND HER FATHER'S
ANGER MAKE ME RESOLVE TO QUIT THE HOUSE--WHAT I OVERHEAR AND SEE BEFORE
MY DEPARTURE--THE RING.

You may now behold me in a very different position, my dear Madam;
instead of the laced hat and hanger at my side, imagine me in a plain
suit of grey with black buttons, and a pen behind my ear; instead of
walking the deck and balancing to the motion of the vessel, I am now
perched immoveably upon a high stool; instead of sweeping the horizon
with my telescope, or watching the straining and bending of the spars
aloft, I am now with my eyes incessantly fixed upon the ledger or
day-book, absorbed in calculation. You may inquire how I liked the
change. At first, I must confess, not over-much, and, notwithstanding
my dislike to the life of a privateersman, I often sighed heavily, and
wished that I were an officer in the king's service. The change from a
life of activity to one of sedentary habits was too sudden, and I often
found myself, with my eyes still fixed upon the figures before me,
absorbed in a sort of castle-building reverie, in which I was boarding
or chasing the enemy, handling my cutlass, and sometimes so moved by my
imagination as to brandish my arm over my head, when an exclamation of
surprise from one of the clerks would remind me of my folly, and, angry
with myself; I would once more resume my pen. But after a time I had
more command over myself; and could sit steadily at my work. Mr
Trevannion had often observed how absent I was, and it was a source of
amusement to him; when we met at dinner, his daughter would say, "So I
hear you had another sea-fight this morning, Mr Elrington;" and her
father would laugh heartily as he gave a description of my ridiculous
conduct.

I very soon, with the kind assistance of Mr Trevannion, became master
of my work, and gave him satisfaction. My chief employment consisted in
writing the letters to correspondents. At first I only copied Mr
Trevannion's letters in his private letter-book; but as I became aware
of the nature of the correspondence, and what was necessary to be
detailed, I then made a rough copy of the letters, and submitted them to
Mr Trevannion