ace."

"Why, sir, it's told in a few words. I took your advice, and brought
the old gentleman presents, and I sat with him and heard all his old
stories at least fifty times over, and laughed at his jokes as regularly
the last time as the first; and he told Jane and her mother that I was a
very pleasant, sensible and amusing young man--although he had all the
talk, and I had none. The fact is, sir, it was he who first brought up
the subject of my splicing his niece; that is to say, he hinted how he
should like to see her well settled, and that if she married according
to his wishes, he would leave her all he had.

"Well, sir, it was the opinion of Jane and her mother, that, as he was a
whimsical, changeable old chap, it would be right for her to refuse me
at first; and so she did, very much to the old man's annoyance, who then
set his mind upon it, and swore that if she did not marry me, he would
not leave her a farthing. After a few days of quarrelling, Jane gave
in, and the old chap swears that we shall be married immediately, and
that he will give us half his property down at once."

"Strike the iron while it's hot, Bob," replied I. "Is the day fixed?"

"Not exactly, sir; but we are to be put up in church next Sunday, and it
takes three Sundays. I hope you won't part with me, sir," continued
Bob. "The Diligente will be paid off on Tuesday, they say, and if you
could get me appointed to the Circe--"

"Why, Cross, you are thinking of going to sea again, even before you are
married. I should advise you not to be in such a hurry. You must not
displease the old gentleman; besides, you must not leave a young wife so
soon."

"That's very true, Captain Keene, but I don't think I should be
comfortable if I knew you were afloat without me."

"I suppose you think that I cannot take care of myself."

"Yes, I do, sir; but still I know that I should fret; and, sir, it will
be four months at least before the Circe is ready for sea and I may just
as well be appointed to her, and I can decide whether I do go to sea or
not when the time comes."

"Well, Cross, I will certainly apply for you; but, if you take my
advice, you will give up the sea altogether, and live on shore."

"I have nothing to do, sir."

"Yes, you have; you have to cherish your wife, and look after the old
gentleman."

"Well he is rather shakey, they say sir; the old woman is often called
out to him at nights."

"Well, Cross, I will do as you w