hat cheating never
thrives, and I believe that it seldom does in the long run. Jane will
be much disappointed if you do not come."

"There is no help for it, Bob; I must disguise my voice; I must cheat a
little now to hide the first cheat. That's always the case in this
world."

"I don't call it cheating, sir; my ideas are, that if you cheat to get
advantage for yourself, then you do cheat; but when you do so to help
another, there's no great cheating in the case."

"I cannot agree with you, Bob; but let us say no more about it. I will
be with you at ten o'clock, which you say is the hour that you go to
church."

This conversation took place on the morning of the wedding. About eight
o'clock, I dressed and breakfasted, and then took a wherry over to
Gosport, and in half an hour was at the house, which was full of people
with white favours, and in such a bustle, that it reminded me of a hive
of bees just previous to a swarm.

"Here's the captain come, sir," said Bob, who had received me; for the
bride was still in her room with her mother.

"Happy to see you, sir; I wish you joy, Mr Waghorn," replied I, taking
his hand.

"You're Captain Keene, then, whose letters to the Admiralty Jane has so
often read to me in the newspapers. Where have we met? I've heard that
voice before."

"Indeed sir," replied I, rather confused.

"Yes, I have; I always know a voice again; let me see--why, captain, you
were here with Cross, the first time I ever heard him--you were an
agent, and now you're a captain," continued the old man, looking very
grave.

"Hush, sir," replied I: "pray don't speak so loud. Do you recollect
what I came about? Do you suppose that when I was a party to the escape
of a prisoner I could let you know, being a perfect stranger, that I was
an officer in his Majesty's service?"

"Very true," replied the old man, "I cannot blame you for that. But was
Cross an officer in the service at that time?"

"No, sir, he was not," replied I; "he was appointed boatswain to my ship
by the admiral in the West Indies."

"I'm glad to hear that. I thought Cross might have deceived me also;
every one tries to cheat a blind man--and the blind are suspicious. I'm
glad that Cross did not deceive me, or I would have seen my niece in her
coffin before--but say no more about it, you could not do otherwise;
all's right, sir, and I'm very glad to see you, and to have the honour
of your company. Sit down, sir, I beg.