ack to
Portsmouth.

CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR.

As soon as I was at home again, the events of the day, from association
of ideas, naturally brought Minnie Vanderwelt into my head, and I
recollected that I had not written to her since my promotion and
appointment to the Circe; I therefore sat down and indited a long
letter, ending with expressing my regret at not having received an
answer from the many I had written, especially the last, which informed
them of my arrival in England, and gave them the knowledge where to
address me. I also requested to know what had become of young Vangilt,
whose escape I had contrived. Having enclosed that letter to the agent,
and begged him to have it forwarded to Hamburg, I went to bed, and,
after the excitement of the day, had a variety of dreams, in which
Minnie's form was continually making its appearance.

The following morning brought me a long letter from my aunt, Mrs
Bridgeman, very lively and very amusing: the only news in it was the
marriage of Lieutenant Flat to a tavern-keeper's daughter, which had
given great offence to the marine corps, as she was said to be rather
light of carriage. She begged me very much to pay them a visit, but
that was not all to my wishes, I most candidly confess. My pride
revolted at it; I even doubt if I would have fitted out a ship at
Chatham where people could point their finger at me, and say--That
post-captain's father was a marine in those barracks. Another letter
from Lord de Versely, announcing his arrival at Madeline Hall, and
requesting me to join him as soon as possible, was infinitely more to my
taste, and I resolved to start next day, which I did. I was very
cordially received by his lordship, and very graciously by the old lady,
who expressed a hope that I would now make a long visit. About an hour
after I had arrived, Colonel Delmar made his appearance: he was a cousin
of Lord de Versely's, but I certainly should not, from his appearance,
have supposed him to be a Delmar: for he was short, round-shouldered,
and with a fat, rubicund face, apparently about forty years of age. I
observed, after our introduction, that his eyes were very often directed
towards me; but his manner was courteous, and, although his appearance
at first sight was not prepossessing, his conversation was very
agreeable, and he was very gentleman-like. Before dinner was over, I
felt a great liking for him.

As the first of September had not yet arrived,