od boiled when I called to mind that he had only made
a casual inquiry after my mother, as I was leaving the room; and then
his checking himself because he had inadvertently said that she was not
strong when she was a young woman. "Yes," thought I; "he cannot bear
the remembrance of the connection; and it is only for myself, and not
from any natural affection of a parent, that he cares for me; or if he
does care for me as his son, it is because I have his blood in my veins;
and he despises and looks down upon the mother. I am sure that he will
be anything but sorry to hear that my mother is dead, and he shall be
gratified. I will now write to her."

I could not help observing that there was some change in the appearance
of Captain Delmar. Strange to say, he looked more youthful; and as I
compared our two faces in the mirror on the mantel-piece behind him,
when I stood up, he appeared more like me in appearance than ever. What
was it? "Oh!" thought I, "I have it. His hair is no longer mixed with
grey: he must wear a wig." This was the fact, as I afterwards
ascertained; the colour of his wig was, however, much darker than my own
hair.

By the same post I wrote to Bob Cross, acquainting him with what had
passed, and begging him to come round by the first water conveyance, and
bring my chest and bedding with him. I then walked down to the dockyard
to have a look at the Manilla, which was, as I had heard, a splendid
vessel; went up again to order a mate's uniform, and returned to the
hotel. It was useless going to the ship at that time, as the marines
and boys had only been drafted into her that morning; and there was
nothing to do until she was clear of the shipwrights, who were still on
board of her, and employed in every part of her. The first lieutenant
had not yet come down. The master was the only officer who had joined,
and he had hoisted the pennant. I was delighted to find that he was to
sail with us; and we passed that evening together.

During the evening the master said, "I hear there are plenty of good men
stowed away by the crimps at different places. I wish we could only
find out where they are, and get hold of them. I fear, if we do not, we
shall either be badly manned in haste from the Tower tender, or have to
wait a long while before we sail. Now, Keene, don't you think you could
manage so as to get us some men?"

"I've got one already," replied I: "Bob Cross, the captain's coxswain."