m I may settle preliminaries,"
said the major. "The sooner these affairs are got over the better."

"Undoubtedly," said my cousin, with unusual bitterness in his tone. "My
first-lieutenant wid act for me. He is a man of honour and a friend. I
have perfect confidence in him. I will send him to you."

I moved away from the skylight. My cousin came on deck, where he was
joined by Mr Sandford, who, after a minute's conversation, went into
the cabin. He and the major very quickly came on deck, the latter
bowing stiffly as he descended to his boat alongside. I felt very much
inclined to walk up to him, and to say, "If your friend shoots my
cousin, and brother that is to be, I'll shoot you;" but I did not. I,
however, watched with no friendly eyes the soldier officer, as he sat in
his boat stiff as a ramrod, while he returned to the Daring. I pondered
how I could prevent this duel. I felt that it was not fair that one man
who had never held a duelling-pistol in his hand, should be compelled to
fight another who could snuff a candle at twelve paces without putting
it out. I wanted to find out when and where they were to meet.

My cousin returned to the cabin with Mr Sandford. The latter remained
with him for some time, and when he returned on deck he looked very
grave and sad. Never more clearly were the evils of duelling brought
home to me. Here was a man in the prime of life, who might long be
useful to his country and mankind, about to be murdered, simply because
he would not apologise for expressions which he could not recollect
having uttered. My poor sister Bertha, too--how miserable his untimely
death would make her.

I walked the deck feeling more unhappy than I had ever before done. The
midshipmen of the corvette kept aloof from me, fancying that my cousin
had communicated some ill news, or perhaps that I was in disgrace. I
don't know. I was glad that no one came and spoke to me. The dinner
hour at last arrived, and I went into the cabin. Of course I was
supposed not to know anything about the contemplated duel, and I tried
to appear as cheerful as before. Besides Mr Sandford, the purser dined
in the cabin, and no allusion even was made to the major's visit. My
cousin endeavoured to keep up the conversation, and smiled at the
purser's bad puns, which he had probably heard a hundred times before.
I talked whenever I could about home--the dear old hall--my sisters and
brothers, and my father and