the region of the heart. My aunt smiled
as she replied, "I am afraid, Neil, that I shall not be able to get my
young friend to come here again for a long time. Mr Marlow writes me
word that he proposes going abroad and taking her with him. But cheer
up; she will return here some day, I hope; and when you came back from
one of your voyages, you will find her with us, perhaps. I should be,
indeed, very sorry if I did not expect to see the dear little girl
again."

My aunt was the kindest creature alive; and I was very certain that she
regretted that Alice was not there to bid me farewell. I wished her and
my cousins good-bye. They all cried a little, and so, in truth, did I;
for they were the only creatures I had to love in the world. I,
however, quite recovered my spirits before I got half-way across to
Portsmouth. My uncle came several times on board the frigate, and, had
I been his own son, he could not have taken more interest in me than he
did. As for Larry Harrigan, he was on board every day, and all day
long, following me about to show me how everything was done, and why it
was done. The first-lieutenant was a very worthy, kind man; and as soon
as he had heard Larry's history, he used to talk to him and encourage
him to come on board. Greatly to Larry's delight, he gave me leave to
spend an evening sometimes at his house, and very pleasant evenings they
were. The officers now began to join fast. Lieutenants, mates, and
midshipmen were every day arriving. We soon had our full complement of
men, and having got clear of the dockyard people, were ready to go out
to Spithead.

I was now to turn over a new page in the history of my career. Although
I had gained a considerable amount of nautical knowledge, my experience
of life was somewhat limited; but henceforth it was to be enlarged and
extended, I trusted, over the greater part of the surface of the globe.
For the present, the lands of the myrtle and vine were to be our
destination--the shores of the Mediterranean; and the man must indeed be
difficult to satisfy who is not pleased with their varied and glowing
beauties. Our gallant ship; our berth, so long our home; my messmates,
as well as our superior officers and men, merit description. I will
touch on each of them in their turn. First I will speak of our berth,
which was in truth somewhat different to the abodes of the naval heroes
of Great Britain of the rank of midshipmen, with which the publi