ired upon a comfortable
independence, had she chosen so to do.

My mother, whatever she might have been when a girl, was now a
strong-minded, clever woman. It must have been a painful thing for her
to have made up her mind to allow me to go to sea; I was her only child,
her only care; I believe she loved me dearly, although she was not so
lavish of her caresses as my aunt Milly; but she perceived that it would
be for my advantage that I should insure the patronage and protection of
Captain Delmar, and she sacrificed self to my interest.

CHAPTER THIRTEEN.

About a month after my aunt's marriage, a letter was received from
Captain Delmar, who had arrived at Spithead, requesting my mother to
send me to Portsmouth as soon as she could, and not go to the trouble or
expense of fitting me out, as he would take that upon himself.

This was but short notice to give a fond mother, but there was no help
for it; she returned an answer, that in three days from the date of the
letter I should be there.

I was immediately summoned from school that she might see as much of me
as possible before I went; and although she did not attempt to detain
me, I perceived, very often, the tears run down her cheeks.

My grandmother thought proper to make me very long speeches every three
or four hours, the substance of which may be comprehended in very few
words--to wit, that I had been a very bad boy, and that I was little
better now; that I had been spoiled by over-indulgence, and that it was
lucky my aunt Milly was not so much with me; that on board a man-of-war
I dare not play tricks, and that I would find it very different from
being at home with my mother; that Captain Delmar was a very great man,
and that I must be very respectful to him; that some day I should thank
her very much for her being so kind to me; that she hoped I would behave
well, and that if I did not, she hoped that I would get a good beating.

Such was the burden of her song, till at last I got very tired of it,
and on the third evening I broke away from her, saying, "Law, granny how
you do twaddle!" upon which she called me a good-for-nothing young
blackguard, and felt positively sure that I should be hanged. The
consequence was, that granny and I did not part good friends; and I
sincerely hoped that when I had come back again, I should not find her
above ground.

The next morning I bade farewell to my dear Aunt Milly and Captain
Bridgeman, received a very u